Sarraj visit to Sochi exposes rival Russian factions on Libya policy
The visit of Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj to Sochi opens some engagement opportunities between Moscow and Tripoli but also exposes challenges.
Following the visit to Russia by Fayez al-Sarraj, the leader of the Government of National Accord in Libya, Moscow and Tripoli plan to sign a contract on shipping 1 million tons of shipping of Russian wheat. Sarraj came to Sochi for the Russia-Africa Summit.
The head of the Russian contact group for Libyan conflict resolution, Lev Dengov, later told the Kommersant newspaper that the one-year agreement may be signed in a month. Supposedly it would be implemented by the end of this year.
Sarraj and Russian officials also discussed other fields of cooperation, including power station construction projects.
The visit of the Government of National Accord's prime minister to Sochi should be viewed as Moscow’s gesture to acknowledge his legitimacy as a leader. However, certain representatives of the pro-Khalifa Hifter “interim government” from eastern Libya also arrived in Russia, although this team’s level was significantly lower — it was led by Foreign Minister Abdel Hadi Hwej. A source with knowledge of the situation who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said the Russian side had objected to the presence of leaders of structures other than the Government of National Accord at the forum; thus, neither the commander of Libyan National Army (Hifter) nor the head of the interim government, Abdullah al-Thani, attended.
