As the civil war in Libya rages on, Prof. Giancarlo Elia Valori discusses the Libyan General's strategic ties with the Russian Federation, as well as the support he receives from neighboring African states and key actors in Europe and the Gulf....
Libya has been in limbo as of late. President Obama backed the government in Tripoli, but, East Libya has been chaotic at best; until this:
Marshal Khalifa Haftar was supposed to be somewhere in Europe in a hospital on his death bed, but, that was debunked and now it appears that he has lead a successful takeover of the oil industry in that area of Libya.
If this holds up, that would mean there are two viable authorities in Libya. That may sound like bad news for most, but, it isn't. If Marshal Haftar is in control of East Libya, that means the other militias are defeated and any remnants are now under his control and quite possibly absorbed by his military.
The United Nations recognizes the government in Tripoli and it is stable, but, that Tripoli authority has not been able to secure Benghazi from vicious militias supposedly affiliated with al Qaeda and/or Daesh. Eastern Libya is mostly centered around Benghazi.
If one recalls the reason Quadaffi met his demise was because of his military's attack on Benghazi. The ability of Tripoli to bring Benghazi securely under its authority has been difficult to impossible for a while now. The reason has been the terrorist element in Benghazi. But, evidently, Haftar did it.
Haftar should approach the United Nations with details of his victory and welcomed as a man who tamed Benghazi and defeated Daesh and al Qaeda. If that is the reality. Haftar should come forward with details about the stability of Benghazi and East Libya. If he is successful in maintaining order then he is a real asset to Libya and perhaps that stability should be a priority before Haftar is considered an enemy of the country of Libya. Stability is paramount. If Benghazi has been rid of terrorists, that is a real victory for the people in the region of Libya.
I would encourage optimism and openness to Marshal Kalifa Haftar. He has achieved the impossible.
June 26, 2018
Marshal Khalifa Haftar (click here) announced on Monday the handover of oil installations under the control of his self-styled army to an administration that rivals Libya’s UN-backed government, after retaking them from militias.
The strongman’s announcement came just hours after his Libyan National Army said it had driven a rival militia out of the country’s oil crescent and regained “full control” of the area.
Libya has been wracked by chaos since the 2011 armed uprising that toppled and killed long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with two rival authorities vying for control.
Haftar supports an administration based in the east of the country.
A UN-backed unity government based in Tripoli has struggled to assert its authority outside the west....
