Turkey Wants to Secure International Support Before Sending Troops to Libya
January 5, 2020, 11:53 am

Turkey Wants to Secure International Support Before Sending Troops to Libya

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan increased his diplomatic moves to secure international support for sending troops to Libya, at the request of the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.

After receiving the parliament’s approval, Erdogan held meetings with members of his government and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to discuss the plan to send soldiers to Libya.

Reports revealed that the first stage of the Turkish plan aims to send between 150 and 200 special forces, intelligence agents, consultants, and engineers.

The Turkish government is still studying the details of the supply plan, especially since Ankara has not received a response from the Algerian government regarding its request to use its airspace and one of its airports to deliver support and supply to Turkish elements, which will be sent to Libya.

Erdogan or Defense Minister Akar might personally visit Algeria to obtain approval for the Turkish request, according to Turkish media.

Sources revealed that 250 of GNA soldiers and security personnel arrived in Adana, south of Turkey, to receive training within the framework of the security memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Turkey and the Sarraj government in November 2019.

MP Emrullah Isler, who is also Erdogan’s Libya envoy, indicated that his country's preparations to send troops to Libya took place prior to the emergent parliamentary session, noting that the memorandum includes military support, training, and humanitarian aid.

Isler noted that Turkey will receive GNA military and security elements to train them.

Chairman of the High Council of State Khalid al-Mashri said that GNA needed to find an ally to defend its rights, referring to the MoU with Turkey. He considered that some countries wanted to eliminate the democratic path in Libya by supporting the Libyan National Army (LNA) with weapons.

Meanwhile, Turkey launched a diplomatic campaign to support its move to send troops to Libya, as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in a phone call recent developments in Libya.

The ministers also covered the Syrian settlement and the state of affairs in Libya in the context of preparing for upcoming top-level contacts.

Ankara criticized Russia for supporting the LNA, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Erdogan pointed to the presence of Russian mercenaries from the so-called Wagner Group, a private military company, in Libya to fight for Haftar in Tripoli.

Moscow has expressed concern about the approval of the Turkish parliament to authorize the government to send troops to Libya.

However, Turkish opposition continued its campaign refusing to send forces to Libya, as leader of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu reiterated his objection for sending Turkish troops to Libya.

Kilicdaroglu stressed that instead of intervening in a civil war in Libya by sending troops, Turkey should activate diplomacy and press on the UN and the permanent members of the Security Council for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force to Libya.

“This would avoid hot conflict in Libya,” he said.

Algeria: Bensalah Resigns as Head of National Council Trump Vows to Hit 52 Iranian Targets If Iran Targets US Assets

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.