Russia has endorsed the credentials of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, saying the son of the former President should play a role in the North African nation’s political life. According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, one of Saif’s representatives had delivered a letter from him to Moscow earlier this month. In October this year, British intelligence services reportedly warned UK Prime Minister Theresa May that Russia was moving troops and missiles into Libya, saying President Vladimir Putin wanted to make Libya “his new Syria”. In recent years, rumors have circulated regularly that Russia might intervene more aggressively in Libya. Until the 2011 revolution that toppled Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, Russia sold arms worth billions to Libya and its state oil companies were deeply involved with their Libyan counterparts.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 26, 2018 12:11 UTC