Part 3: Khalifa Haftar Returns to Libya

For two weeks, there was speculation about the health of Khalifa Hafter, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA). He was rushed off to a Paris hospital after a trip to Jordan. During a period of two weeks, there was no real evidence that he was still alive other than via his spokesperson -- which how much can you trust a PR person?

Yet on April 27th he made a triumphant return to Libya.


The Economist in their April 28 print edition wrote that Khalifa Haftar was still in the hospital. Unknown to them at time of print was that he was just about to leave the hospital. Though the article is dated, there is an interesting quote in the article:

Benghazi is in ruins. He rules the rubble like an authoritarian. The LNA has looted property from displaced families and tortured critics. And his growing power comes at the expense of the UN-backed government in Tripoli, the capital at the western end of the country. The UN wants Libya to hold elections this year. General Haftar has already hinted that he may not accept the results.



This is a very unfavorable portrayal of someone who likely has support from the French (as he spent time in a Paris hospital). He also has support from Egypt, Russia and the UAE. You wouldn't assume that three of those nations would care much about human rights, but you'd think France would care about human rights. Yet, when you need allies to fight off ISIS, you make strange allies.

Via The UK Telegraph we have this quote about his April 27th arrival:

He wore a black suit and walked down the stairs of the jet unaided. Military officers, politicians, and tribal leaders were waiting on a red carpet to embrace him.

If you click on the link, there's also video showing his arrival. He looks in good health.

So why all the secrecy around his illness over the last two weeks?

The Guardian has this speculation:

Some have speculated Haftar’s allies did not do more to quash the rumours because he wanted to use the vacuum to flush out those disloyal to him inside his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA).

That's a nice political play, but how well does it work when the LNA is made up of numerous tribes? Of course, tribes would look out for themselves when the leader who brings them together might be dying.