Haftar accepts popular mandate to rescue Libya, fight terrorism

Nahla Abdelmonem

Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar has said he was “responding to the will of the people” to annul the Skheirat agreement and manage the country’s affairs for the coming future.

He said the agreement has “destroyed” the country, adding that the people have tasked the LNA general command with a “historic” duty in such extraordinary times.

It is “proud to annul the political agreement, which will now be a thing of the past, through the will of the Libyan people, who are the source of powers,” he added.

The Skheirat deal, signed in 2015, has led Libya on a “dangerous” path, Haftar remarked.

The agreement led to the formation of the presidential council, which is headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, and the High Council of State, headed by Muslim Brotherhood member Khalid al-Mishri.

Following his call, pro-Haftar accounts on social media launched a campaign. Demonstrations in his support were held in the eastern parts of the country and outside his house in Benghazi.

““Operation Dignity” was launched in 2014, and today it has become a revolution due to the pivotal changes that have led to a better future. Your Armed Forces have sacrificed everything to free your country from terrorism,” Haftar said in his speech.

“Terrorism spread throughout the country, they targeted what had remained of the Army and security forces in an attempt to control the country. The terrorists committed the vilest of crimes, assassinating activists, journalists, lawyers and key social figures,” he added.

Haftar also stressed the Army, with the support of the Libyan people and the young men who gathered from all parts the country, would continue its fight against terrorism.

Political expert Karam Saied told The Reference in an interview that a large number of Libyan tribes announced their support to the Libyan National Army, even before Haftar’s calls.

Haftar’s mission, according to Saied, is to control Libya and confront the Fayez al-Sarraj militias, while getting the support of tribes.

Saied further said the support of the tribes to the army will give it a greater moral boost in its military confrontations against the mercenaries and militias that are being supported and funded by Turkey.

He also said demands by Haftar to cancel the Sukheirat agreement which aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement to the Libyan crisis.

On February, Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan said his country has sent Syrian opposition fighters to Libya.

Several reports had indicated that the mercenaries went to Turkey after they were promised the Turkish citizenship and salaries of up to $2,000 per month, to fight alongside militias loyal to the Al-Wefaq government

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) estimated they were around 3,600 fighters from pro-Turkish factions and brigades in Syria.

The Turkish President reaffirmed that his country will continue to support Al-Wefaq against the National Army of Libya after al-Sarraj requested further Turkish military support to thwart the army’s advancement.