The statements of the head of the Libyan National Unity Government, Abdul Hamid al-Dabaiba, regarding his government's failure to coordinate with the retired General Khalifa Haftar, sparked controversy in Libya over the latter's position in the government equation.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera on the "Without Borders" program, Dabaiba talked about files, including the relationship of his government with Haftar, saying, "We coordinate in Benghazi with the mayor of the municipality and the police services."
Al-Dabaiba affirmed that his government had unified 80% of state institutions, "except for the military establishment and the 5 + 5 committee is the nucleus for their unification."
Al-Dabaiba explained that logistical matters hindered the government’s meeting in the city of Benghazi, pledging to hold a meeting soon in the city in the east of the country, noting that there were “good signs to get the mercenaries out of Libya.”
Analysts and politicians believe that Dabaiba is concerned about the repercussions of the Haftar meeting in eastern Libya, where he will avoid this time ignoring Haftar, as happened last time, by coordinating with other parties to visit Benghazi, which caused him to be prevented from entering the city controlled by Haftar.
Exercising powers
A member of the Supreme Council of State in Al-Qasim Dabras believes that Dabaiba exercises his stipulated powers in coordination with the municipal councils and the military and security bodies when visiting any Libyan city, and there is no presence of Haftar among these bodies, and his imposition is only the reality in a past period.
Debars told Al-Jazeera Net, "The bad behavior of the armed militias in Benghazi when preventing the government delegation from disembarking in Benghazi is totally unacceptable and unacceptable, and Al-Dabaiba must not be subject to these provocative actions and apparent blackmail and end this absurdity."
"In Dabaiba's view, the military body consists of the Ministry of Defense, which he heads, and the Chief of Staff, which is led by Muhammad Al-Haddad, and other things are parallel obstructing bodies," he added.
Debars considered that Haftar is seeking again to impose himself on the scene despite its end at all levels, noting that his supporters and allies have reached the conviction that the last defeat kept him away from the scene, and the bet on him failed.
Debars clarified that Dabaiba, by obtaining confidence from the House of Representatives, and upon approving the budget, can proceed directly to work in municipal councils and other state institutions that directly follow him.
Coordination with Haftar
Member of Parliament Muhammad Al-Abani stressed that coordination with the General Command headed by Haftar is a prerequisite for entering the city of Benghazi and all Libyan cities under his control.
Al-Abani added, "The armed forces led by Haftar are regular forces, not mercenaries or foreign forces, in order to prevent any Libyan citizen from entering Benghazi, but Libyans who do not trust themselves and consider that the General Command forces are illegal and that they are Haftar's militias feel that they cannot reach Benghazi."
Al-Abani stated that the forces led by Haftar are the Libyan state forces that were established by law from the House of Representatives in Tobruk under Law No. 1 of 2015 amending Law 11 of 2011 by establishing the General Command of the Armed Forces and appointing Haftar as its general commander.
Al-Abani told Al-Jazeera Net that Dabaiba must communicate and work with Haftar to coordinate his policy in the region and not be hostile towards him until security is established and the armed forces are united under one body in Libya.
Al-Abani asked Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid al-Dabaiba to appoint a defense minister, in coordination with Haftar, so that the place would not be vacant, and to work to support the "5 + 5" joint military committee.
Discolored situations
A member of Parliament, Ali Al-Sol, explained that Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dabaiba is discreet and does not have a clear position and manipulates statements.
Al-Sol continued in his statement to Al-Jazeera Net, "Until now, it is not clear Dabaiba's stance on Khalifa Haftar, as well as the opposite."
Al-Sol stressed that the prime minister will not be able to unify the military institution because there are no advisory teams that would benefit him, whether in political, security, military or even media affairs.
Various reasons
Political analyst Abdullah al-Kabir considered that Dabaiba does not see a need to deal with Haftar, for reasons including what this dealings will provoke in terms of angry reactions in Misurata, Dabaiba's hometown, and in the cities of western Libya in general, in addition to his realization that Haftar will not consider him as an independent prime minister. Like Abdullah al-Thani, before him, he is considered a mere employee dependent on the will of Haftar and his sons.
He added to Al-Jazeera Net, "Yes, Haftar is not subject to any authority and sees himself above all authorities, and the government has not determined the appropriate character for Haftar so far, but he is, of course, a rebel after the government prevented him from meeting in Benghazi."
Al-Kabeer stated that Dabaiba relies on his deputy, Hussein al-Qatrani, who is affiliated with Haftar and has no real authority over him, in addition to ministers and agents from the east who can work there within the frameworks determined by Haftar.
"The military establishment will not be united in the presence of Haftar, and he will not accept his resignation from his current position without receiving one of his sons, and the unification of the army means implementing the laws and regulations governing the Libyan army, which prohibits foreign nationalities from working in Libya," Al-Kabeer added.
Al-Kabeer pointed out the inability of the new authority to take a firm stand towards Haftar and the military establishment in general, and he will not see any real interaction with the positions of the retired general, and the anti-Haftar forces in the West and East will not respond to any more than the condemning statements pending the position of the UN mission or the major powers supporting the agreement. Politician.