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Denver- Libyan Field Marshall, Khalifa Haftar, announced a temporary end to his military leadership as he vies for a spot in the upcoming presidential elections.
Haftar stated Wednesday he would be appointing an interim replacement of the Libyan National Army until the general elections on December 24th. This decision opens the door for Haftar to qualify as a candidate under Libya’s new laws. He is currently the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), the official armed forces of the Tobruk-based government in eastern Libya.
The LNA stands in direct opposition to the Libyan Army, which is a force loyal to the internationally recognized, Tripoli-based Government of National Unity. After years of an uneasy stalemate, the LNA launched an open attack on the Libyan capital of Tripoli following failed reconciliation attempts with the Libyan Army.
Haftar’s forces have also drawn international controversy after international groups accused the military units of staging the abduction of Libyan politician Serham Sergiwa from her home in Benghazi in 2019. The move prompted concerns over “silencing the voices of women” on the Libyan political stage. Since then, Sergiwa’s location within Libya remains unknown.
Haftar has also been accused of directly ordering the execution of prisoners of war during his military career. The Field Marshall was part of the large opposition group responsible for the toppling of former dictator Muammar Ghaddafi. Since then, Haftar and his troops have refused to recognize the internationally supported government in Tripoli.
Haftar’s ability to run for president comes after a new controversial law was passed via the House of Representative Speaker Aguila Saleh. This new law stipulates that military commanders in Libya are allowed to run for president provided they withdraw from their positions at least three months prior to the elections. Commanders are also entitled to backpay a return to their posts if they fail to get elected.
Critics have accused Saleh of rushing the legislation to aid his ally Haftar in a bid for the presidency. Shortly after passing the legislation, Saleh also announced he would be withdrawing from the parliament to focus on a presidential campaign.
International groups, including the UN, continue to monitor Libya’s upcoming elections. The event is the first attempt in several years to reconcile the several factions currently claiming legitimate rule in various parts of the country.
After the death of Ghaddafi in 2011, the country has been plagued by consistent civil war, as several political and military officials vie for control over the country’s politically divided territory.
