Libya–Qatar relations

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Libya–Qatar relations
Map indicating locations of Libya and Qatar

Libya
Qatar

Libya–Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between Libya and State of Qatar. The two countries are members of the Arab League and the United Nations.

History[edit]

Qatar was the second country to recognise the NTC and the first to announce a trade agreement with it, declaring on 27 March 2011 that it would market Libyan oil exports from eastern terminals controlled by anti-Gaddafi elements.[1] It was also the first Arab country to join international military operations in Libya, sending interceptors to help enforce the no-fly zone starting on 25 March.[2] The Qatari government is also closely tied to Al Jazeera, one of the first international news networks to begin covering the 2011 civil war.[3]

The NTC faced one of its first diplomatic quandaries after Iman al-Obeidi, a Libyan woman who accused Gaddafi-loyal militiamen of beating and gang-raping her at a checkpoint in a high-profile appearance before journalists at the Rixos Al Nasr in Tripoli, was granted asylum in Qatar. Despite the protests of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Qatar then forcibly deported Obeidi back to Benghazi on 2 June 2011 for unknown reasons,[4] and Obeidi publicly blamed the NTC for her deportation.[5] Despite this incident, Qatari cooperation with the NTC remained close throughout the war, with close consultations between officials of the two governments in Doha becoming so frequent that some anti-Gaddafi fighters complained that their leadership was spending too much time in Qatar and not enough time in Libya.[6] Qatari military advisers also reportedly accompanied some anti-Gaddafi brigades in the Nafusa Mountains[7] and during the coastal offensive in Tripolitania, even helping to direct some fighters in the storming of Gaddafi's Bab al-Azizia compound in central Tripoli.[8]

On 16 October 2011, the Qatari and Libyan governments signed a memorandum of understanding in Doha for cooperation between the justice ministries of the two states. Officials said the fledgling government of Libya could benefit from Qatar's experience in establishing justice, law and order.[9] Libya, which supported Saudi Arabia during the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis, also cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.[10][11][12]

Resident diplomatic missions[edit]

  • Libya has an embassy in Doha.
  • Qatar has an embassy in Tripoli.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Qatar recognises Libyan rebels after oil deal". Al Jazeera English. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  2. ^ McShane, Larry (25 March 2011). "Qatar fighter jet flies mission over Libya, first Arab nation to join no-fly zone against Khadafy". Daily News. New York. NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  3. ^ Burke, Jason (24 March 2011). "Qatar's decision to send planes to Libya is part of a high-stakes game". London. The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  4. ^ Kirkpatrick, David (2 June 2011). "Libya: Qatar Deports Dissident Woman". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  5. ^ Sandels, Alexandra (4 June 2011). "LIBYA/QATAR: Alleged rape victim Eman Obeidy reportedly beaten, deported back to Libya". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  6. ^ Fahim, Kareem (9 August 2011). "Libyan Rebels Dissolve Cabinet Amid Discord". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  7. ^ Flood, Derek Henry (3 August 2011). "Special Commentary from Inside Western Libya-- The Nalut Offensive: A View from the Battlefield". The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  8. ^ Horne, Nigel (24 August 2011). "Qatari special forces led Libyan attack on compound". The First Post. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Qatar, Libya NTC sign legal cooperation deal". The Peninsula. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt Cut Ties With Qatar". Bloomberg.com. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-05. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Qatar row: Six countries cut links with Doha". BBC News. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-06-16. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Bahrain cut ties to Qatar". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
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