The Russian mercenary firm Wagner Group has left Libya after forces of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) took over the strategic Al-Watiya airbase, a local mayor said. Salem Alaywan, mayor of the town of Bani Walid, told a local television channel that three planes took off with Wagner elements. A UN Libya sanction committee, in a report handed to the UN Security Council last week, indicated that Wagner Group has smuggled in the oil-rich African country at least 1,200 fighters from various nationalities to back Haftar forces. GNA forces, with Turkey’s support, last week took control of the al-Watiya airbase from forces aligned to the UAE-backed rebel Gen. Khalifa Haftar. Al-Haddad said that the GNA’s militants formed an operation room for the “liberation” of the oil crescent in eastern Libya.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 25, 2020 15:45 UTC