An official at the African-Arab Center for Investment and Development: France is exploiting Dabaiba to achieve its old ambitions in southern Libya

The director of projects at the African-Arab Center for Investment and Development, Mohamed Mutairid, confirmed that France is seeking to achieve its old ambitions in southern Libya, by proposing the idea of ​​agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

Mutairid explained in statements to the “Independent Arabia” website that France opened the door to talks on developing agricultural cooperation, after losing its influence in a number of African countries and due to the aggravation of the global economic crisis due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Matirid stressed that what the Ministry of Agriculture of Dabaiba said contradicts reality, that cooperation between the two countries will not go beyond setting visions regarding the form of cooperation, noting that “France’s intentions are always limited to how to exploit and exhaust the capabilities of its colonies on which the economy is based.”

He also raised a question about the reason for this current cooperation at this time, specifically with Al-Dabaiba government, which is expected to be replaced by a new government soon.

He added, “Al-Dabaiba government will adopt a policy of secrecy and deception and will suppress the right of the Libyan citizen to know explicit information regarding this agricultural cooperation with France, as neither the method of contracting nor its duration will be disclosed, as happened previously by this government with Italy during the signing of bilateral contracts in The field of gas and oil, which was surrounded by many doubts, was a political gain for Dabaiba, which was offset by the neglect of national capabilities to ensure his continued power.”

He went on to say, “Arable lands are concentrated in the south of the country in an area whose topography, characteristics, and agricultural potential France knows well, given that it is a former colony. It is also an important opportunity for Paris to cover the extent of its losses in countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, and a number of other African countries.”

He went on to say, “French ambitions in the south of the country are not new, as Paris previously supported some of the southern Libyan tribes in order to impose dividing control in the Fezzan region so that it would be an independent region in its own right outside the control of the Libyan authorities, and it worked to host a number of Libyan dissidents residing in Paris who are promoting the idea of ​​presence.” The French in the south, in exchange for their personal gains.”

He pointed out that establishing such projects requires a stable state and a unified government in order to set a real vision that achieves a local product in the agricultural field. As for talking about cooperation in this way, it is nothing more than a political deal with unilateral profits, in which France will work to impose its conditions in exchange for Supporting Al-Dabaiba government no more, especially after it became clear recently that the American side is inclined to support the American Khalifa Haftar and its emphasis on the necessity of forming a new government as an alternative to the current one in Tripoli, which may lead to the depletion of Libyan capabilities.

He concluded by saying, “France has a strong record of monopolizing projects and implicating African governments in long contracts in which they are the only winners, and what is happening currently is a dangerous indicator of the repetition of this scenario in Libya.”