Ankara Positions Itself as Key Broker in Libya
Türkiye has placed itself at the heart of Libya’s fragile peace process, emerging as one of the few external actors able to mediate between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. Similarly, Türkiye has taken on a prominent role in seeking non-violent solutions within the GNU, working to shield the Tripoli government — already weakened by militia pressures and fragile institutions — from further vulnerability in the face of Benghazi’s challenge.
Amid mounting friction in Tripoli between Prime Minister Dbeibeh and powerful militia leaders, it has been Türkiye’s role to step in and defuse tensions. Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Rada Special Deterrence Forces have reached a landmark security agreement in Tripoli after months of tension, following mediation led by Türkiye.
The deal, finalized on September 13, came after a series of negotiations initiated in June with the visit of MIT chief İbrahim Kalin to Tripoli. Talks continued throughout the summer and intensified after Kalin’s August 25 trip to Benghazi, where he held a rare meeting with eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. The visit marked the first high-level contact between Ankara and Libya’s eastern camp in years and underscored Türkiye’s bid to act as a guarantor for all sides.
Political actors in Libya who favour staying out of the conflict also strengthened Ankara’s hand by saying that Turkey could resolve the situation. Presidential Council adviser Ziyad Dagim emphasised that Turkey was the only power trusted by both sides.
The security agreement reached at the end of negotiations, which were attended by several senior Turkish officials, aims to restructure the fragile security order in Tripoli. In this regard, the agreement, which prioritises the control of the legitimate government, contains important provisions:
Mitiga International Airport: Control of the capital’s most strategic site was transferred from Rada to a new “Airport Protection Force,” restoring state authority over the facility.
Prisons: Detention centres previously run by Rada were handed over to the Ministry of Justice, addressing human rights concerns and reinforcing state monopoly on arrests and detention.
Military Withdrawals: GNU forces agreed to pull back from central Tripoli and redeploy to cities such as Misrata, Zliten and Gharyan, reducing the risk of renewed clashes. Also armed groups without legal mandates were ordered to leave both Tripoli and Misrata airports.
The agreement, signed with Türkiye’s mediation after months of tension, took practical shape on 13 September when GNU forces entered Mitiga Airport for the first time, following intensive military deployments in the capital.
Political Rift Between Dbeibeh and Menfi
The agreement coincided with a new political dispute between Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and Presidential Council President Mohamed al-Menfi over the leadership of the Judicial Police Authority.
Dbeibeh issued a decree naming Maj. Gen. Abdel Fattah Dabbub as head of the body, just hours after Menfi’s office announced that Maj. Gen. Atiyya al-Fahri had been appointed under the airport handover deal. The conflicting decisions have left the institution contested by multiple appointees, reflecting wider institutional rivalry inside the Libyan state.
The United Nations welcomed the transfer of prisons to the Justice Ministry as a step toward addressing long-standing rights concerns. Diplomats, however, cautioned that the GNU’s ability to sustain the deal will depend on whether it can prevent a security vacuum in areas vacated by Rada.
Türkiye’s role has drawn international attention. By maintaining dialogue with both Tripoli-based officials and eastern commander Haftar, Ankara has positioned itself as one of the few actors capable of bridging Libya’s deep political divides.
Diplomatic circles view the agreement as an important step toward stabilizing the capital by transferring control of key infrastructure from militias to state institutions. Yet they caution that political disputes — such as the row over the Judicial Police — underscore just how fragile the transition remains.
The Türkiye-brokered deal marks a pivotal test for Libya’s fractured institutions. Its endurance will depend on the GNU’s resolve to impose security and deliver on the agreement’s promises.
