Will Libya's Parliament Ratify Maritime Deal with Turkey?
The maritime memorandum of understanding (MoU) was originally signed in 2019 between Turkey and the outgoing Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. The agreement demarcates maritime boundaries, granting Turkey access to a vast economic zone believed to contain untapped energy resources.
At the time, the deal was met with strong opposition from several regional players. Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt all condemned the agreement as illegal, arguing it violated international maritime law and infringed on their territorial waters. Libya's eastern-based authorities, including the Tobruk parliament, also rejected the GNA's authority to sign such international deals.
Parliament Speaker Ageela Saleh had previously labelled the Turkey-GNA agreement 'null and void', calling it a breach of Libyan sovereignty. However, recent developments suggest a potential shift in position. Reports indicate that the House of Representatives has formed a committee tasked with reviewing—and possibly ratifying—the agreement.
If confirmed, this would represent a major political reversal by the eastern Libyan bloc. It would also bring both major Libyan factions—those in Tripoli and Tobruk—into alignment with Turkey's maritime claims. Such a step would challenge Greece's bilateral maritime agreement with Egypt and complicate ongoing efforts to explore and exploit natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey has deepened its engagement with eastern Libyan authorities in recent years. Ankara hosted Haftar's son, Saddam, in previous visits and extended humanitarian aid during times of crisis. These moves are widely viewed as part of a broader strategy to expand Turkish influence in the region.
The potential ratification of the 2019 maritime MoU by the Libyan parliament would mark a turning point in regional diplomacy. It could further escalate tensions over Mediterranean energy resources, while cementing Turkey's strategic foothold across Libya's political divide.
Such a development would likely provoke sharp reactions from Athens and Cairo, who have long opposed Ankara's assertive maritime policies. Tags: GNAGreecelibyaLibyan parliamentMaritime Deal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libya Review
7 hours ago
- Libya Review
Libyan Government Condemns Dbaiba's ICC Authorization as Illegitimate
On Sunday, Libya's eastern-based government, led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, announced its rejection of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes committed in Libya from 2011 to 2027. The rejection came in response to a declaration made by the rival Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba, which had accepted the ICC's mandate under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute. In a legal memorandum sent to the ICC and made public on Sunday, Justice Minister Khaled Massoud described the GNU's declaration as 'legally void' and without constitutional legitimacy. He argued that the GNU is a 'defunct' administration that lost its legal authority after a vote of no confidence by the House of Representatives, and therefore lacks the power to engage in international legal commitments affecting national sovereignty. The Hammad government accused the GNU of violating Libyan sovereignty and attempting to bypass the national judiciary. The memorandum stressed that any acceptance of ICC jurisdiction must come from a legitimate, constitutionally mandated authority. It warned the Court against proceeding based on what it described as 'unilateral and unauthorized steps' taken by a politically contested entity. Massoud called on the ICC to respect Libya's internal legal framework and the authority of its legitimate institutions. He added that accepting the GNU's declaration would undermine the role of the Libyan judicial system and breach the principles of national sovereignty. The statement directly challenges an announcement made in May by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who told the UN Security Council that Libya had granted jurisdiction to investigate crimes committed over the past decade. He called it a crucial step toward justice and accountability. Tags: icclibyaLibyan GovernmentWar Crimes
Libya Review
8 hours ago
- Libya Review
International Criminal Court Pressures Libya to Hand Over Fugitives
The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) described the arrest of Khaled El Hishri, a senior commander of Libya's Special Deterrence Forces (Rada), in Germany as a 'significant step' towards accountability for crimes committed in Libyan detention centres. In a statement to Arabi21, the ICC Prosecutor's Office stressed that Libya remains under the Court's jurisdiction, citing UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011). The office stated: 'Libya formally accepted the ICC's jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory from 2011 until the end of 2027.' The remarks came in response to comments by authorities in Benghazi claiming they were not obligated to hand over suspects since Libya is not an ICC member. 'Libya has the right to challenge admissibility of cases before the Court, but it has not done so,' the Prosecutor's Office added. The ICC emphasised that it is not in conflict with Libyan authorities and welcomed cooperation to end impunity for international crimes, particularly those committed against migrants and detainees in Libyan facilities. The office also urged the international community and the UN Security Council to assist in executing pending arrest warrants and supporting investigations into Libya's situation. El Hishri, also known as Mohamed Ali El Hishri, was arrested by German authorities on 18 July 2025. He is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to his role at the notorious Mitiga prison in Tripoli between February 2015 and early 2020. The ICC confirmed that El Hishri will remain in German custody pending legal procedures. Investigators allege he bears criminal responsibility for systematic abuses in detention centres, which have long been criticised by international organisations for torture, unlawful detention, and other serious violations. Tags: iccKhaled El HishrilibyaOsama NajimWar Crimes
Libya Review
9 hours ago
- Libya Review
Libyan Authorities Arrest 1500 Migrants near Tripoli
Libyan authorities have detained more than 1,500 foreign workers in a large-scale raid on informal settlements east of Tripoli, the Ministry of Labour announced on Saturday. The operation, attended by Labour Minister Ali Al-Abed, targeted what he described as 'large, unregulated housing clusters for foreign labour.' Al-Abed stated that the detained workers, of various nationalities, lacked residence permits, official documentation, or medical checks. 'These groups have not undergone any formal procedures or health screenings,' he said. The workers were taken to facilities under the Department for Combating Illegal Migration, where legal measures will be applied according to Libyan regulations. The targeted area consisted of makeshift camps surrounded by high walls and a large gate. An AFP reporter present at the scene described the camp as having a small grocery shop, a butcher, and a vegetable stand, highlighting the informal economic activity taking place there. Libya remains a key departure point for thousands of irregular migrants aiming to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, located just 300 km away. Many of the detained individuals are believed to be from Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa. It remains unclear whether immediate deportations are planned. The Ministry of Labour said the site failed to meet 'basic requirements for proper housing, health, and occupational safety,' according to the Libyan News Agency. Earlier this month, European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, accompanied by ministers from Greece, Italy, and Malta, visited Libya to discuss migration flows. Libyan naval forces regularly intercept migrant boats in international waters and return them to Libya, where humanitarian organisations and the UN have condemned detention conditions as inhumane. The recent crackdown highlights Libya's ongoing efforts to regulate undocumented foreign labour and curb irregular migration amid increasing international scrutiny. Tags: Immigrationlibyamigrantstripoli
