Cairo opens up to western Libya in bid to counter Turkish influence Visit by senior Egyptian intelligence official and diplomats to Tripoli could be the prelude to other steps. Monday 28/12/2020 Egyptian delegation during talks in Tripoli December 27, 2020. (TAW) TRIPOLI – Egypt has decided to be more open to the Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, a move that carries a message of support to the current led by Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha and which rejects Turkish military escalation. Bashagha, who is close to the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Justice and Construction Party, visited Cairo last November. Following the withdrawal of the Libyan National Army (LNA) from Tripoli to Sirte, a split emerged in western Libya between supporters of the political settlement process ending Turkey’s military role and those calling for continued fighting and seizing Sirte and the oil ports.