UN report of Turkish involvement in Libya. must read!!
UN rapporteurs sent a joint letter in June to the Turkish government seeking further information about its role in the recruitment, financing, transportation and deployment of Syrian fighters to Libya.
According to the allegations underlined in the letter, Turkey effectively deployed mercenaries to an armed conflict in Libya by recruiting, deploying and paying fighters, including children, from several Syrian armed groups to take part in military operations in Tripoli in support of the Government of National Accord (GNA).
The UN letter also revealed how the Turkish government used its paramilitary contractor SADAT for those operations. “Turkish authorities allegedly contracted private military and security companies to facilitate the selection as well as the preparation of official and contractual documentation for the fighters, apparently in coordination with the Turkish security services. One of the companies cited in this context was Sadat International Defence Consultancy [SADAT],” the letter said.
The UN rapporteurs asked the Turkish government to provide further information about on its role and the circumstances surrounding the recruitment, financing, transportation and deployment of Syrian fighters, including children under 18 years old, to participate in the hostilities in Libya; the role of Turkish private military and security companies in those operations and the relationship between such companies and Turkish government; the number of Syrian fighters deployed to Libya, the names of the Syrian armed groups with which they are affiliated; the command and control structure over fighters and the measures in place to hold them accountable for violations of international humanitarian law; and whether those allegations have been investigated by the relevant Turkish authorities.
SADAT, which is fully funded and supported by the Turkish government, is owned by retired Gen. Gen. Adnan Tanrıverdi, the former chief military aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Nordic Monitor published several reports on SADAT’s activities and goals in Turkey and abroad.
SADAT and other possible Turkish contractors were also accused of recruiting children under 18 years of age to take part in the armed conflict in Libya by the UN rapporteurs. “Not only have [Turkish] these companies facilitated the recruitment and deployment of mercenaries from Syria to Libya, but, according to the available information, they have also contributed to the recruitment of children under 18 years of age to take part in an armed conflict.”
