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Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a strongman in eastern Libya, has been weakened since the summer of 2020 after failing to seize the capital Tripoli, trying to impose another on the Libyan political scene.
After his appearance a few days ago, in military fatigue in the midst of his forces, it was in civilian clothes that he turned, on Thursday, April 1, to an assembly of tribal chiefs and denote tables from eastern Libya. He then called for demonstrations for the departure of foreign mercenaries and for voting in the December 24 election. His views suggest he is playing the game with political agreement because he warns “anyone who hinders the election” or who “threatens national security”. In a country where stability is very fragile, it is a way of reminding us that it is still dependent on the national political spectrum.
A significant military force
Despite his heavy defeat in Tripoli, Khalifa Haftar still leads a large and strong military force in eastern Libya. It also controls the oil terminals, which are mainly located in its area of influence. For Hasni Abidi, a political scientist specializing in Libya, Khalifa Haftar’s appearances respond to the political activism of “new political activism”. He is worried that his own sponsors are officially supporting the new authorities. He “should definitely do the same” states the political scientist.
According to Jalel Herchaoui, a researcher at the Global Initiative Against Cross-Border Organized Crime, Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah spared Marshal Haftar: that part of the single budget that will soon be voted on will be devoted to the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar.
Economic dehydration
At present, when the promise of a national victory is no longer an option for him, he suffers from an economic dehydration and the future of his military institution is threatened, but several observers agree to say: “It is better to have Khalifa Haftar on the political spectrum “. His absence “would create a security vacuum that does not suit anyone.”
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