Haftar announces end of Skhirat agreement

Libya’s national army commander Khalifa Haftar announced on Sunday the end of the Libyan Political Agreement, which was signed in Skhirat in Morocco in 2015, and said he does not recognize any decisions issued by the political bodies linked to it.

“The military institution will not submit to any party unless it has gained its legitimacy from the Libyan people,” Haftar said in a televised speech.

“We are fully obedient to the commands of the free Libyan people as they are the source of authority and the (real) decision makers,” he added.

Addressing the Libyans, Haftar said: “The country is at a historical crossroads. We feel that your patience has run out and that the stability you have long waited for is now out of reach. Your hopes and dreams seem to be shattering now that you are disappointed and frustrated by all national institutions.”

The army commander also warned that Libya is entering “a dangerous phase” that will negatively impact local affairs and extend to regional areas and slammed the National Accord Government saying it’s like “non-existent.”

“Local and international institutions which claim they’re concerned about resolving the situation have not made any serious and practical preemptive measures that reassure people over their future,” Haftar said, noting that Libyan parties’ dialogues, including the Skhirat Agreement, are mere “ink on paper.”

Haftar also emphasized that the Libyan armed forces’ general command has been directly communicating with the international community to resolve the Libyan situation and has proposed initiatives to push the political process and hold legislative and presidential elections.

“However, international leniency and local intransigence did not provide any real guarantees that lead to a comprehensive and just solution,” he said.

“We (the general command) would receive threats if we make any decision against their will. We (hereby) confirm that we will not submit to these threats,” he added.