Libya: For the Haftars, family comes first
The political impasse remains in a divided Libya, exhausted by more than a decade of civil war. In the east, Marshal Haftar and his sons, who dominate the region, are striving to become key players, particularly in international relations.
Saddam, one of the sons of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strongman of eastern Libya, recently concluded a diplomatic tour, notably to Pakistan, which “reflects his father's desire to open up to regional and international capitals and to draw a new map of his military alliances,” notes the pan-Arab news site Al-Araby Al-Jadid .
Libya is today a more divided country than ever, with two rival governments exercising authority over the west and east of the territory. In the west, the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) is based in Tripoli, while in the east, the forces of Field Marshal Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) control Cyrenaica, around Benghazi.
In April, Saddam, promoted to chief of staff of the ground forces, traveled to Ankara, the Turkish capital, to discuss with Defense Minister Yasar Güler “means of military cooperation” with his country.
Last April, also at his father's request, Saddam visited Washington to meet with State Department officials and discuss "stability in Libya." The rising-up then traveled to Rome and Cairo in June, both to discuss military cooperation.
Al-Araby Al-Jadid reports that in the aftermath of the 2020 debacle, when his forces' assault on Tripoli turned into a fiasco, Haftar began isolating several of his close lieutenants and promoting his sons.
Thus, in 2024, Saddam was appointed chief of staff of the land forces, with the rank of general. His second son, Khaled, was promoted to the rank of general and chief of staff of the security units, while Belkacem was given the leadership of the Office of Development and Reconstruction.
Saddam “remains the most prominent of his brothers, and his representation of his father abroad confirms his exceptional place” in the family, says political scientist Hassan Abdel Mawla. According to him, Haftar wants to show that he does not want to be a prisoner of his traditional alliance with Russia, and seems to have entrusted this mission to his son Saddam, “capable of carrying out the project and embodying its legacy.”
"The tasks are divided up very precisely: Saddam forges alliances abroad, Khaled secures the regime internally, and Belkacem manages financial resources," summarizes political science researcher Issa Homouma.
Courrier International
