Khalifa Haftar, commander of eastern Libyan forces, appointed his son Saddam Haftar as deputy general commander on Monday. The Libyan Arab Armed Forces announced that 82-year-old Haftar named Lt. Gen. Saddam Khalifa Haftar, 34, on the 85th anniversary of the Libyan National Army’s founding. The appointment aligns with Haftar’s 2030 vision to develop and enhance the armed forces’ overall performance, the statement said.
It added that several important appointments will follow soon but did not disclose further details. Before this promotion, Saddam Haftar served as chief of staff of eastern Libya’s ground forces.
Libya’s military remains divided, with eastern forces led by Haftar and western forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity. This government is headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, holding sway over the west, while the east answers to Haftar’s allied administration.
For years, the UN has led efforts to unify Libya’s military through the “5+5” Joint Military Commission, featuring officers from both east and west. In parallel, the UN mediates talks aiming to hold elections to resolve the political deadlock between Libya’s rival administrations.
One administration is backed by the House of Representatives, based in Benghazi and led by Osama Hammad, controlling the east and south. The other is the Tripoli government under Dbeibah, controlling western Libya.
Libyans eagerly await elections, hoping to close the turbulent chapter opened by Gaddafi’s 2011 overthrow. The country’s future hinges on ending years of division, conflict, and transitional uncertainty.
