The United States (US) is pressing for the departure of Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries from eastern and southern Libya, while keeping Turkish troops in the western region, Africa Intelligence website has reported.
The French website has said that through the commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Michael Langley, Washington is pressuring Khalifa Haftar – who brought Wagner for his war on Tripoli in 2019, to expel the mercenaries from the south and east, but backs up the presence of Turkish troops in Tripoli.
Africa Intelligence said Langley was focusing on the expulsion of Wagner mercenaries, adding that this focus was the topic of his meeting with Haftar in Benghazi on August 21.
“This makes Haftar concerned as he rejects letting Wagner go without assurances, especially that the Turkish troops can remain in Tripoli according to the US vision.” The website said.
It added that Washington was also pondering the formation of a Libyan joint force under the command of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee. It said the force would be headed by chiefs of staff Mohammed Al-Haddad and Abdelrazik Al-Nathori.
According to the proposal, the US, France and the United Kingdom would train the joint force personnel and provide them with the needed equipment.
