Key facts
- Saddam Haftar, son of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, is accused of overseeing a "terror cell" that launched drone attacks on fuel facilities.
Allegations that Saddam Haftar, son of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, oversaw drone attacks on fuel facilities have jeopardized plans for a unified Libya. The attacks, which worsened electricity blackouts, have put pressure on the Tripoli-based government and complicated a US-backed plan to merge the country's institutions.
The allegations of drone attacks orchestrated by a warlord's son threaten to derail efforts to unify Libya, potentially prolonging the country's division and instability. This instability could impact global oil markets due to Libya's significant crude oil production capacity and further complicate international efforts to stabilize the region.
Allegations that Saddam Haftar, son of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, oversaw a "terror cell" responsible for drone attacks on fuel storage facilities and power stations in western Libya have disrupted plans for the country's unity. These attacks, which occurred over five days in August, exacerbated electricity blackouts and intensified popular pressure on the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
The drone strikes hit a gasoline-storage tank at the Zawiya oil complex, west of Tripoli, causing a significant fire and the tank's collapse. The tank contained approximately 4.5 million liters of fuel, according to Libya’s National Oil Corporation.
These claims have complicated a US-backed plan, reportedly hatched by Donald Trump’s Africa adviser Massad Boulos, aimed at unifying Libya's security, judicial, and political institutions. Boulos's plan envisioned Khalifa Haftar taking on the role of president and a member of the Dbeibah family becoming prime minister. Boulos has stated the plan is not about entrenching elites but about individuals taking necessary positions.
Sources within the GNU indicated that the alleged plotters were working for Saddam Haftar, suggesting that the discoveries make it impossible to continue working with him. The allegations also impact the UN-sponsored 4+4 talks, which had reached an August agreement to stage elections within two years.
Walid Ellafi, minister for state for political affairs in the GNU, expressed support for the UN process, emphasizing its role in paving the way for elections and legitimate institutions, and opposing political settlements that overlook grievances. The allegations may also intensify an internal power struggle among Khalifa Haftar's three sons, with Saddam seen as the likely heir but facing challenges from his brothers, Khaled and Belqasim.
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