Libya: Arab League trapped in recognition of GNA-Ankara maritime agreement

The Arab League has found itself in a difficult position in making a decision over late November maritime agreement between the Libyan UN-backed Government of National Accord, GNA, and Turkey.

The GNA and Ankara on Nov. 27 inked a maritime deal which extends Turkey’s maritime border into Libyan waters, an agreement that allows Ankara to carry out oil exploration in Libya water.

The deal approved by the GNA has been however rejected by the House of Representatives (HoR), the country’s parliament in the East, which is at odds with the Tripoli-based GNA.

The HoR is backed by the UAE and Egypt. Cairo slammed the maritime agreement and called on the UN not to recognize it.

The Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has indicated that the Egypt-based organization has decided to freeze the MoU after it received letters from both the GNA and HoR, Libya Observer reports.

In freezing the GNA’s demand for recognition, Gheit says he doesn’t want to weaken the Arab League any more, as it is going through the weakest times since it was established in 1945, the media outlet notes.