Haftar: My troops will not submit to any authority

Retired field marshal Khalifa Haftar, one of Libya’s most divisive personalities, has said that his troops would not subordinate to any government that has not been duly elected by the Libyan people.

In a speech marking the 81st anniversary of the establishment of the Libyan army, Haftar stated that his forces “will not be subject to any authority except to an authority that will be directly elected by the people.”

In a speech marking the 81st anniversary of the establishment of the Libyan army, Haftar stated that his forces “will not be subject to any authority except to an authority that will be directly elected by the people.”

The Field Marshal, who is stationed in the eastern city of Benghazi, said that his troops would resist any pressure directed at them and indicated that it would impede the city’s efforts to collaborate with the present Libyan authority.

According to a statement issued by his office in February, Haftar announced his support for the new transitional government and a “peaceful and democratic alternation of power” in Libya.

However, it is worth noting that his actions continue to contradict his statements since maintaining Libya’s armed forces divided would violate one of the GNA’s major objectives of uniting the country’s military institutions.

Despite the failure of his 2019 assault, when the previous UN-recognized government of national agreements repulsed his invasion of Tripoli with assistance from Turkey and Qatar, Haftar and his troops continue to rule the bulk of the country’s eastern area.