Recent accusations regarding Saddam Haftar, the son of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, have emerged, claiming he managed a “terror cell” responsible for drone strikes targeting fuel storage facilities and power stations in western Libya. These developments have disrupted the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU)’s plans for collaboration with Haftar in efforts to unify the nation.
Saddam Haftar, who serves as the deputy commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), has been recognized by the United States as a significant player in the initiative to consolidate Libya’s security, judicial, and political systems. However, a series of drone assaults in August exacerbated electricity shortages in western Libya, intensifying public discontent toward Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s leadership within the GNU.
Since the downfall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been divided, with Haftar controlling the east and the GNU governing the west. This division has led to rampant corruption, militia violence, human trafficking, and interference from various foreign entities in the oil-rich nation.
Massad Boulos, an advisor on Africa under former President Donald Trump, has proposed a plan to merge the two opposing Libyan administrations. In this scenario, Haftar would assume the presidency while a member of the Dbeibah family would take on the role of prime minister. Boulos has emphasized that his approach is not a superficial solution aimed at entrenching family elites within Libya. “It’s not about families or names,” he remarked when questioned about the potential Haftar-Dbeibah agreement, although he acknowledged that individuals will need to occupy key positions.
The recent drone attacks are believed to have been motivated by Haftar’s frustration with Dbeibah, who is perceived to be delaying the merger plan, as well as alleged encouragement from Tripoli for southern tribes to target his forces. Over a span of five days in August, drone strikes targeted the Zawiya oil station and fuel storage sites in western Libya, leading to significant damage, including a large fire and the collapse of a gasoline storage tank containing approximately 4.5 million liters of fuel, as reported by Libya’s National Oil Corporation.
On September 5, the GNU apprehended three Libyans and one Spanish national in southern Tripoli for their suspected involvement in a plot that may have included an attack on Tripoli airport. Reports indicated that the group consisted of five Spaniards and four Libyans, with the three detained Libyans allegedly linked to the Tareq ben Ziyad brigade, associated with the LNA. Investigative interviews concerning the plot and Saddam Haftar’s purported involvement have yielded critical information that could undermine Khalifa Haftar’s influence.
Sources within the GNU indicated that the alleged conspirators were working under Saddam Haftar’s direction. “While no formal decision has been reached, the revelations make it untenable to collaborate with Saddam,” they stated.
These allegations not only jeopardize Saddam Haftar’s position in Boulos’ plan but also threaten the ongoing UN-backed 4+4 discussions, which involve the primary political institutions in Libya and resulted in an agreement in August for elections to be held within two years. Endorsed by the UN Security Council, this deal aims to remove previous barriers to elections and has received support from key stakeholders capable of facilitating this change.
Walid Ellafi, the state minister for political affairs in the UN-supported GNU and a proponent of the electoral process, expressed strong support for the 4+4 framework as a means to foster practical outcomes leading to elections and institutions that derive their legitimacy from the populace rather than through political compromises that overlook past violations or disregard the rights of those affected.
Ellafi is opposed to any elite agreement between eastern and western political factions that neglects longstanding grievances, such as the displacement of 9,000 families in Benghazi during the 2014 conflict.
The allegations surrounding the sabotage operations could intensify the rivalry among Khalifa Haftar’s three sons in the east. Saddam Haftar is viewed as his father’s likely successor and currently has the most resources, along with backing from the United Arab Emirates, positioning him as a dominant force in the political landscape. However, his brothers, Khaled and Belqasim, who maintain closer ties with Egypt, have begun to challenge his authority.
