Friday 04 / July / 2025
Britain's Minister of Defence, Philip Hammond announced he didn't need Parliament to get Britain involved in another quagmire that will prove to be similar to its disastrous involvement in Afghanistan. Parliamentarians are making the strongest protestations.
Meanwhile the UN and EU has also stated it will change formally international recognition status, from the House of Representatives (HOR) parliament to Serraj, whether or not HOR recognise the Government of National Accord (GNA) which would give him control of Libya’s vast foreign assets, estimated at $140 billion. But Russia, who’s vote is pivotal on the UN Security Council, has said ‘not so quick.'
But on Monday night Serraj's Wizard of Oz act reached its zenith when he addressed more than 50 of the great and good; foreign and defence ministers of the European Union gathered at a dinner in Luxembourg, his words coming to them by video conference.
As expected, the HOR on Monday in Tobruk, preferred, not unexpectedly, to yet again defer their decision. So the saga continues.
Nevertheless illogically the EU's Federica Mogerini gave a Press Conference that same evening perpetuating the charade stating everything that had happened to Serraj and the GNA had been a success and further promised him she had €100m to give him!
Incredible.
To remind readers again, just over two weeks ago Serraj arrived on a barely sea worthy Libyan patrol boat for the last leg of the journey to preserve the illusion that this was not a foreign conjured coup. The first leg was by Italian Frigate!
No more than 7 men were on the ship, the remnants of what should have been a 9-man Presidential Council. And where prey tell are the 30 ministers and 60 deputy ministers that constitute the GNA?
Plucked from obscurity by the UN, a Tripoli businessman was selected one Serraj, to bring peace to Libya, who they expect to end the war between the Islamist National Salvation government in Tripoli and the elected parliament (HOR) in Tobruk. The further expectation then is for Serraj to head a united Libyan army crushing both IS and the migrant-smuggling gangs, the West’s twin Libya headaches. Ridiculous; Impossible!
To preserve this illusion, western dignitaries are arriving in staged visits to the Libyan capital, a virtual 'Potemkin Village' show. An interesting historical parallel.
They land amid tight security at the city centre Mitega airport, guarded by their own small army and by the few militias who have taken Serraj’s side, and his promise of fat pay rises. From there it is a nervy two mile dash in armoured cars down the coastal highway to the naval base. Once the dignitaries are inside, they stay long enough for the all-important photographs showing handshakes and meetings before scurrying away again.
On Monday the British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond paid a very short visit to Tripoli's Naval 'bunker' as it has become known.
A few days ago, as mentioned in a previous article, the French and German foreign ministers completed this sham also. Soon after their planes flew away, a militia blew up the home of a politician who had dared object to the new govenrment. Hours later, another milita attacked the home of deputy designate prime minister, Ahmed Maiteeg from Misrata. Neither man was home, wisely staying well clear of this militia-infested city, but the second attack saw rival militias bring tanks onto the streets in fighting that spluttered for five hours. Of Serraj there was no sign. He has spent most of the last fortnight abroad, in Cairo, Istambul, London and Tunis, anywhere but Libya.
America’s Libya envoy Jonathan Winer tried to play down Saturday’s fighting, tweeting: “Shots fired, clash unintended & over quickly.” That tweet does not convince those Tripolitanians who spent Saturday night in their basements.
None of this was mentioned in Monday night’s Luxembourg gala dinner. EU leaders maintained the facade, and in fact enhanced it, promising to send diplomats to Tripoli, a city equivalent to Sarajevo of the early 90s.
The fallout from this mess will be felt hard throughout Southern Europe. IS will remain dug in on the coast a couple of hundred miles south, ready to carry out its threat to launch attacks on Europe's tourist beaches.
And the militias, will continue making hundreds of millions of dollars from the operation, by sending tens of thousands of migrants on their precarious journey north to Europe.
Last month the European Union however threatened sanctions on 'spoilers' - the threatened asset freeze and travel bans - on men for daring to object to the Serraj government. One Abdul Rahman Swehli caved in quickly and was rewarded by being anointed as 'President' of the so called State Council. The result for such other 'spoilers' of which Gen. Hafter is also accused of being is that probably none can ever set foot in any Western country, of course, unless in the case of the HoR's Saleh if he is intimidated sufficiently by the EU and UN to say yes soon to Serraj's phantom government.
The UN's Martin Kobler yesterday in Tobruk made Salah an offer, in Don Corleone's words, he can't refuse!
But even if the HOR does accept the GNA, that still will not bring peace to Libya, only the facade of there being a unity government. Then what? I predict a country that will split eventually. - Exclusive to Times of Oman
