Haftar appoints his son chief of staff in surprise reshuffle

Egyptian journalist Khaled Mahmoued revealed in a post on his X account that Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the commander of forces based in eastern Libya, has carried out a surprise reshuffle by appointing his son, Khalid Haftar, as Chief of Staff.

The move comes as Lieutenant General Abdulrazek al-Nadoori, long considered one of the most senior figures within these forces, was shifted to the role of National Security Advisor.

According to Mahmoued, the decision—ratified by the House of Representatives in Benghazi during its session yesterday—further consolidates Haftar’s family dominance within the military structure. His son Saddam Haftar already holds the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief, effectively placing the two most powerful positions after Haftar himself in the hands of his sons.

The reshuffle has triggered intense debate across political and public circles. Critics view the appointments as an early step toward hereditary succession, accusing Haftar of turning his military apparatus into a family enterprise. Supporters, however, defend the move as a strategic necessity in light of the challenges facing eastern Libya and the fragile security environment.

Analysts say the shake-up signals a broader strategy by Haftar to consolidate power and prepare a future leadership structure dominated by his sons, raising fresh questions about the future of Libya’s political and security landscape.