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This Sunday begins the international conference on Libya in Berlin to relaunch the peace process: two camps clash in Libya, on the one hand the forces of Marshal Haftar and on the other the government of national unity of Fayez el- Sarraj, recognized by the international community and now also supported by Turkey. Ankara has also deployed Syrian mercenaries on the spot alongside its own troops, but in Syria, the subject is very taboo.
Few Syrian opposition activists agree to address this issue. Of all those contacted in northern Syria, Abu Mohamed is the only one willing to answer.
" The departure for Libya was done in two stages: the first group of Syrians to leave was composed entirely of translators, administrative agents and people who were to manage the arsenals," he explains. But then there was a second wave of departure with around 1,000 Syrian fighters whose mission is to fight alongside the forces of the Libyan national unity government against the troops of Marchal Haftar. "
These departures outraged the Syrian population in the north of the country. According to Abu Mohamed, some people see it as a real betrayal. But he, close to these fighters who left for Libya, minimizes the situation.
“ Some people here are against these departures to Libya. For them it is unacceptable to give up the fight against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, he believes. But I don't think it's a problem. We have enough men to fight in both Syria and Libya. In addition, those who left for Libya were all volunteers. "
But according to another activist from the Syrian opposition who requested anonymity, these fighters who left for Libya are considered in Syria as traitors and mercenaries. He also confirms information from the Guardian : Ankara would have granted Turkish nationality to these Syrian fighters and an average salary of $ 2,000 a month.