Libya: Saddam Haftar gains southern mandate

Political and community figures in Libya’s southern Fezzan region have authorised Saddam Haftar to represent the region’s demands in future political dialogue, as reported by Libya Review and agencies on July 20th.

The statement said local representatives had entrusted Haftar, deputy commander in chief of the Libyan National Army, with presenting Fezzan’s political, economic and development priorities during negotiations linked to Libya’s political process.

That makes the declaration more than a regional endorsement as Fezzan has long complained of underrepresentation in national decision-making, despite its strategic geography, natural resources and importance to Libya’s border security.

The region connects Libya to Chad, Niger and Sudan, and sits across routes used for trade, migration, smuggling and armed movements; control and representation in Fezzan therefore carry national weight, especially as Libya’s political talks increasingly focus on security, borders and institutional unification.

For Saddam Haftar, the announcement strengthens his claim to speak beyond the eastern military structure built by his father, Khalifa Haftar.

His recent activity has already placed him at the centre of military, diplomatic and political tracks, including contacts with foreign governments and discussions around Libya’s future executive arrangements.

The Fezzan statement allows Haftar to present himself not only as a commander but as a political channel for southern demands over development, representation and access to state resources.

Still, the move is politically sensitive; Fezzan is not a single political bloc, and any claim to represent the region will be contested by rival local actors, tribal groups and communities wary of becoming absorbed into the Haftar camp’s national strategy.

Southern Libya is becoming an important part of the struggle over the country’s next settlement.

If Fezzan’s demands are seriously included, the dialogue could become more territorially balanced, but if they are channelled mainly through one armed power centre, the process risks strengthening military leverage rather than appropriate regional representation.

Libya Review plus agencies, Maghrebi.org