Haftar names son deputy commander-in-chief, sparking political backlash

Eastern Libya’s military leader Khalifa Haftar has appointed his son, Saddam Haftar, as deputy commander-in-chief, granting him authority over key operational priorities, The National reports.

The move drew praise from Libya’s Benghazi-based government but sharp criticism from Tripoli officials, underscoring the deep divisions between the country’s two rival administrations. Since the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has remained split, with a 2020 ceasefire halting open conflict but failing to resolve political rivalries.

Osama Hammad, prime minister of the east-based government, hailed the appointment as timely and aligned with “Vision 2030” to strengthen the armed forces.

In contrast, Abdullah al-Lafi, deputy head of the Presidential Council in Tripoli, called for an emergency meeting, insisting top military posts must be approved by the council under the 2021 Geneva Political Agreement, which designates it as the army’s supreme commander.

The House of Representatives disputes this authority, claiming the council’s mandate expired last year and transferring its powers to itself—a move the council rejects as unconstitutional.

Saddam Haftar has recently taken on a prominent diplomatic role, visiting Islamabad, Ankara, Washington, Rome, and Cairo in 2024 for high-level defense and security talks with leaders from Pakistan, Turkey, the US, Italy, and Egypt.