The commander of eastern Libyan forces, Khalifa Haftar, officially appointed his son, Saddam, as his deputy on Monday, according to a statement from his forces. According to a Libyan Arab Armed Forces statement, Haftar, 82, designated his 34-year-old son as deputy general commander “on the occasion of the 85th anniversary.”
This new appointment aligns with the general commander’s ambitious 2030 vision to develop and strategically enhance the overall performance of the armed forces. The statement also indicated that a number of other important appointments will follow in the coming days, without providing any further details.
Prior to his new significant role, Saddam Haftar had been serving as the chief of staff for the ground forces in eastern Libya. Libya’s military remains split between forces in the east led by Haftar and those in the west aligned with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity.
For years, the United Nations mission in Libya has led determined efforts to unify the military through the “5+5” Joint Military Commission. The UN is also mediating separate talks intended to hold elections to break the political deadlock between two rival administrations.
One administration, led by Osama Hammad, is based in Benghazi, controls the east, and was appointed by the House of Representatives. The other administration is the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, which is headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and controls the country’s west.
Libyans hope that the long-delayed elections will finally bring an end to years of political division and conflict in the country. This would close the chapter on the transitional period that began with the overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.