Saddam Haftar Terror Allegations Disrupt Libya Unification Plans

Allegations that Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army, oversaw a terror cell have disrupted efforts to unify Libya's divided government. The cell is accused of launching August drone attacks on power facilities and the Zawiya oil complex, which caused a large fire and intensified electricity blackouts in western Libya.

These developments threaten a proposed merger plan brokered by Massad Boulos, an adviser to Donald Trump. The plan would have established Khalifa Haftar as president and a member of the Dbeibah family as prime minister. Further instability arose in September when the Government of National Unity arrested three Libyans and one Spanish citizen for an alleged plot to attack Tripoli airport, with sources linking the suspects to Saddam Haftar.

The accusations jeopardize both the Boulos plan and the UN-sponsored 4+4 talks intended to facilitate national elections within two years. Walid Ellafi, the GNU Minister for State for Political Affairs, stated that support for the 4+4 process is based on its role as a UN framework to achieve results that lead to elections, rather than a political settlement that overlooks violations.