In the throes of chaos, which is experiencing a civil war and fragmented Libya is, the person should look closely: General Khalifa Haftar, which could become the new Libyan Gaddafi.
He just declared victory in the battle for the second largest city of Benghazi. It actively supports other countries, including Russia, and its goal is to establish control over all of Libya.
His name is Khalifa haftar Belkacem, and if the card in the bloody Libyan rebellion will fall right, 73-year-old gray-haired gentleman with the title of field Marshal could be the EU’s most important ally in trying to stem the flow of African migrants who today use Libya as a transit country on the way to Europe.
Victory in Benghazi followed after the forces under the command of General Haftorah in the last three years waged a war of attrition with various groups of Islamist militants. Thanks to the victory in Benghazi, Khalifa Haftar now not only gained control over much of Eastern Libya. His forces also control several oil ports and areas in the southern part of the country, and in late may, Haftar have gained control of a strategically important airbase Ufra 500 km South-West of the capital, Tripoli.
Now, after the victory in Benghazi, Haftar gaze upon the West of the capital Tripoli. In any case, the military served in the army for so many years, and tried to hide the fact that his ambitions extend to the entire state. And according to the Libyan press, the Haftarot then may nominate his candidacy for President, when the next year — according to plan — presidential election.
The three governments
If Haftar and his forces zero in on Tripoli, they first will not only have to throw out a myriad of Islamist and other armed militants. The Haftarah will also have to confront the Libyan government enjoying international recognition, which is based in Tripoli, although in reality, this government controls only a small part of the city.
Having international recognition, the government called Presidential Council, headed by his old friend, the Libyan politician Faiz al-Sarraj. He is the Prime Minister in the government, which calls itself the Government of national consensus. To the fact that this government enjoys international recognition, not to be taken too literally.
On paper, the national unity Government in Tripoli is indeed recognized as the government of Libya — UN, and, hence, different countries of the world. To honor the EU should say that it supports a Government of national unity and relies on the fact that al-Sarraj and his men will be able to control Libya so that the flow of migrants and refugees from the country can be brought under control.
In fact, there are many countries “Spud” two competing Libyan government or center of power, of which, without doubt, the most influential is General Haftar and his allies in the House of representatives, popularly elected Parliament of Libya who found shelter in the city of Tobruk, where demand recognition as the legitimate government of Libya.
BLUE BOOK: KHALIFA HAFTAR BELKACEM
Born November 7, 1943 in the city of Ajdabiya in Eastern Libya.
As a young officer, Haftar took part in the coup, which in 1969 brought to power Muammar Gaddafi overthrew king Idris of Libya.
Haftar was one of the chiefs of staff of Gaddafi and led Libyan forces during the conflict with Chad in the 1980-ies.
There Gaddafi was captured and fell out of favor with Gaddafi. He was released in 1990 year, through the mediation of the Americans, he was granted asylum in the United States.
During the uprising against Moammar Gaddafi in 2011 during the “Arab spring” Haftar returned to Libya and has contributed to the fall of the regime.
Support from Egypt and Russia
Haftar and his supporters get political and military support from Libya’s neighbor Egypt and from the state, lying in the Persian Gulf, the United Arab Emirates. Without their support Haftar hardly be able to gain control over Benghazi.
Should add also that in the battle for the future of Libya Haftar enjoys Russian support. This caused concern in the US and the EU, but several sources indicate that, in any case, the US, France and Britain themselves with the help of his special forces provided various forms of support to the struggle of the Haftarot with Islamist militants.
While the USA under President Obama kept the Haftarot in the distance, with Donald trump, there have been indications that the rate begins to change: perhaps the Haftarot is the man who will bring order to the chaos-ridden Libya? Yes, and France — under the new President Emanuele the Macron has become the good things about the Haftarah.
As for the Americans, the Haftarot for them — not a clean sheet. In any case, not for the CIA, the American intelligence service, who in 1990 helped the future of a prominent Libyan military commander to obtain asylum in the United States, when he fell out with the then leader of the country, Muammar Gaddafi.
Haftar settled in Virginia, where it is located and the CIA. And for 20 years before he during the revolution, Gaddafi dropped from his post in 2011, returned to Libya, he had plans for rebellion.
New Gaddafi?
Now Khalifa Haftar wants to become a new Gaddafi, his critics argue that, in particular, indicate that Haftar betrayed the revolution in 2011, appointing people who were part of the Gaddafi regime in leading positions in his army.
Frederick Were (Frederic Wehrey), senior researcher, expert on Libya, the American analytical center of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, points out that the Haftarah “militarytime government leadership”.
“In the East, he replaced the elected local leaders and to officers in uniform. The intelligence apparatus of the Gaddafi era again in payroll. Critical voices are not heard — after the purges, arrests and even disappearances, and many whisper that it is a return to the bad old days”, writes senior researcher, recently visited Libya, in the magazine The Atlantic.
