The interior minister from Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) has called on the US to set up a base in the North African country. Fathi Bashagha said the GNA had proposed hosting a base after US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper laid out plans to scale back the US military presence in Africa. “If the US asks for a base, as the Libyan government we wouldn’t mind — for fighting terrorism, organised crime and keeping foreign countries that intervene at a distance. Mr Erdogan simultaneously hit out at Field Marshal Haftar and renewed allegations that Russia had sent 2,500 mercenaries from a private security company. The US has about 6,000 troops in Africa, including those guarding diplomatic facilities, according to a defence official.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 22, 2020 19:30 UTC