Home › World › What did Libya's government ask of the West?
What did Libya's government ask of the West?
Summary
A look back at 27 June 2020, when Libya's recognised government sought sanctions over Russian mercenaries, while the EU weighed rules for reopening its borders.
What did Libya's internationally recognised government want from Washington and Brussels on 27 June 2020? It called for the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions on individuals and "mercenaries".
The Government of National Accord made the appeal after the country's National Oil Corporation stated that Russian mercenaries and other foreign actors had forced their way into the Sharara oilfield. The reports were filed under the Libyan Civil War and linked to the Wagner Group.
Europe's border question
Three days earlier, on 24 June 2020, ambassadors from EU member states had met to develop criteria for reopening the bloc's external borders to travellers on 1 July. The European Commission's guidance was that non-EU countries would make a safe list if their COVID-19 situation was comparable to or better than the EU average. Officials were to look at the number of new infections, the trend in new infections, and testing and tracing. Other factors, such as reciprocity and links to the EU, would also be considered.
Under those rules, travellers from countries such as Brazil, Russia and the United States might be barred.
