Libya

Libya Risks Being Torn to Shreds — Again — by Former CIA Asset Turned Warlord

 Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, a 40-year veteran of Libyan politics and longtime CIA asset, on Thursday ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army (NLA) to advance on the densely populated capital, Tripoli, where the United Nations-backed government is seated.

In the aftermath of the “humanitarian intervention” led by NATO in support of jihadists seeking to oust longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, various factions have vied for power in the war-torn nation, once the wealthiest in Africa. According to the Special Monitoring Mission to Libya, forces loyal to Haftar, a former CIA asset, now control more than 77 percent of the country.

The situation in and around Tripoli was fluid through the weekend with at least 25 killed and 80 wounded, according to the country’s health ministry. U.S. military personnel have evacuated, as have some 2,800 civilians, according to the United Nations.

Haftar had addressed his forces, ironically ordering them to advance on Tripoli in order to free it from “militias and terrorists.” He vowed not to kill foreigners or civilians, but only those who “prefer confrontation and fighting.”

“We are coming, Tripoli, we are coming,” he said.

That was shortly after his troops captured the town of Gharyan, which is just 62 miles (100km) from the capital. The following day, , AFP reported that Haftar’s troops were expelled from a “key checkpoint” just 16 miles (27km) from Tripoli. 

Libya

Russian support for Haftar likely to shift governance eastwards and hasten collapse of Libya's UN-backed government

On 11 January, Libyan militia leader General Khalifa Haftar met Russian officials aboard a Russian aircraft carrier off the coast of Tobruq, in eastern Libya. On 6 February, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers tacitly approved the inclusion of Haftar in a future Libyan government.

During the Tobruq meeting, Haftar secured Russian support in exchange for unspecified basing rights in eastern Libya, Al Jazeera reported on 22 January. This has prompted increased diplomatic activity from the European Union (EU) outlining an increased role for Haftar in the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) that underpins the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). This probably reflects an effort to dissuade Russia from backing the general as a new authoritarian leader for Libya.

Haftar commands the Libyan National Army (LNA), an umbrella group of militias affiliated to Libya's eastern parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR). He has previously signalled an ambition to lead Libya. Both Haftar and the HoR have refused to recognise the UN-backed GNA, based in the capital Tripoli.