Turkish defense chief in Qatar probably to discuss sending Somali hirelings to Libya

Amira al-Sharif

Moves by Turkish officials throw light on their country’s ambitions in Libya.

The latest visit to Doha by Turkish Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar falls into this trend.

Some observers linked the visit to recent political and military developments on the Libyan scene.

The news site, Libya Review, said Akar’s surprise visit to Doha came only a day after the Pentagon issued a report in which it estimated the number of mercenaries Turkey had transferred from Syria to Libya at between 3,500 and 3,800.

The report lambasted Turkey for committing violations by sending the mercenaries to prop up the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The Pentagon’s report moves hand in hand with a cavalcade of other reports about the same issue. However, the Pentagon’s report puts Ankara on the spot, especially at this critical time, with one country after another coming out to voice opposition to Turkey’s interference in Libya.

Turkey has sent thousands of hirelings to Libya, ever since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed security cooperation and maritime delimitation memos with the GNA.

Some observers say the Pentagon’s report could have propelled Akar’s visit to Doha. It could also be behind Turkey’s recent move to ditch the idea of bringing Syrians into Libya and substituting them with mercenaries from other countries.

Doha has functioned as a training ground for mercenaries from Somalia. It also functioned as a distribution center for these mercenaries to conflict zones in the Middle East.

In August last year, a report revealed that some Somali intelligence officers had received training in Doha. Some observers said the move revealed Qatar’s interference in the security situation in the Horn of Africa.

Turkey might be considering sending Somali officers to Libya to back the GNA, according to the Libya Review.