Summary:

A 22 January 2023 meeting of the Arab League in Tripoli, Libya was poorly attended with only a handful of the 22 member states sending representatives, including Tunisia and Algeria. Key players from the region, including Egypt, UAE, and Saudia Arabia did not attend. Additionally, the Arab League’s Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit did not attend, prompting officials from the Tripoli-based government to demand respect for Libya’s current possession of the rotating role of Arab League President.

The Arab League states in attendance, including Algeria and Tunisia, have warmer relations with the Tripoli-based government in Libya headed by Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah. The states who boycotted the meeting have been more closely aligned with the rival Libyan government based in the east, led by Prime Minister Fathi Bashaga and backed by the military leader Khalifa Haftar.

Outlook:  

Relations between Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya have warmed in recent months, particularly with Prime Minister Dbeibah’s Tripoli-based government. This diplomatic effort has resulted in the North African states being aligned with one of two Libyan governments vying for control, while many of the larger players in the region either remain neutral or more explicitly aligned with the eastern government. The Tunisian government continues to walk a fine line between cooperating with close neighbor Libya on issues particular to the North African states, while working to appease the Gulf states who are, perhaps, the last resort for financing to bailout the faltering Tunisian economy.

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