Khalifa Haftars story reads like an American action series: From the Gaddafi-loyal he is to the US-backed Gaddafi-opponent. The leader of the Libyan National army is a key figure for the future of Libya.
Khalifa Haftar, at a Meeting in Italy in November 2018
The man who decides currently, about Libya’s future, began his career as an officer in the Libyan army. In 1969, he took part in the coup, king Idris, ousted and Muammar al-Gaddafi to Power. He was to Gaddafi supporters, and commanded the Libyan troops in Chad-war verse occurs after the defeat of 1987, however, with Gaddafi. Haftar was taken by Chad caught, you could go in 1990 with the help of the CIA, but to exile in the United States.
There, he was part of a CIA-backed Anti-Gaddafi Opposition. In the suburbs of Washington, he spent the next two decades in order to plan a conspiracy to overthrow the former ruler Gaddafi and murder.
During the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, Haftar returned to Libya. Gaddafi was overthrown and rebels killed. Haftar was at the top of the Alliance “Dignity against Islamist militias” and became one of the leading military commanders of the country.
Descent into civil war
Fighters of the LNA patrol in the Libyan city of Seba
In the spring of 2014, Haftar tried to seize Power in the country. He announced the dissolution of the former – now defunct General national Congress (GNC) on television and called on the Libyans to rise up against the national Congress. So the way for new elections should be paved.
In June 2014, Parliament elections took place. The anti-Islamist Alliance to Haftar won. However, the conflict escalated and developed into the next civil war. Because the Islamist Opposition has not wanted to recognise the result. Fierce fighting between Islamists and Haftar-loyal forces on the other side, eventually led to the newly elected house of representatives had to flee for Haftar in Tripoli, Libya in the Eastern city of Tobruk. In the capital of Tripoli was built by the Islamists also a management.
Haftar against Serraj
The appointment of Khalifa Haftars to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces Liybyens (LNA) in 2015, led to a further escalation of the military situation in the country. The UN started a new attempt, the two rival camps to bring together. The so-called unity government under the leadership of Fayez Serraj was set up. Since the beginning of 2016, the internationally recognized unit of government is not reigned in Tripoli, however, until today, to control the country.
The LNA consists of former soldiers, police officials and rebel groups
A reason for this: General Haftar and his political organs do not want to recognise the government. Attempts at mediation by the UN, the Gulf States, France, and Italy between Haftar and Serraj not remain unsuccessful, an end to the civil war is in sight. The next round of the upcoming United Nations-backed talks aims to develop a new timetable for parliamentary and presidential elections – to a the country at last.
However, Khalifa Haftar should already have precise ideas about how a possible new agreement should look like. He wants to take over the leadership of the Libyan army and its LNA in this to integrate, other sources even speak of it, that he wants the successor of the deposed Gaddafi’s.
Haftar and Serraj had multiple elections, most recently in February at a Meeting in Abu Dhabi. The UN spoke of a date in this year, a specific date, but there is so far. The announcement Haftars, now to conquer Tripoli militarily, triggers international concern.