France, which has oil assets in eastern Libya, has provided military assistance in past years to Haftar in his eastern stronghold, Libyan and French officials say.. Salah al Namroush, the defence minister of the UN-backed government of GNA in Libya on Friday reproached France for throwing its weight behind warlord Khalifa Haftar. Paris does not want to isolate itself from the man helping it to gain influence in Libya. (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, DECEMBER 10 - Ahmed al-Mismari, spokesman for the National Libyan Army led by General Khalifa Haftar, said on Sky News Arabia on Wednesday, "we are in war with Turkey" and "we have declared a ceasefire" only "in respect of efforts by the international community and the desire of the Libyans to put an end … Much to the shock and embarrassment of the Macron administration, Paris's position on Libya was revealed in 2016 when three undercover French soldiers died in a helicopter crash in Benghazi. France called on Monday for talks among NATO allies on what it said was Turkey’s increasingly “aggressive” role in Libya. But as the tide started turning in recent weeks, France tried to coax the mercurial and overreaching Haftar to engage in the cease-fire talks set out at a Berlin peace conference in January, before he lost all his military gains. France has thus far feigned ignorance over supplying weapons and offering logistical support to Haftar's forces. According to French newspaper Le Monde, France has gone out of its way to ensure the warlord is fully armed, even deploying French special forces for the training of his militias. Issued on: 18/04/2019 - 19:55Modified: 19/04/2019 - 08:04. Le Drian is known to be the architect of France’s Libya policy. LONDON . France’s role in Libya and its support to warlord Haftar. Al Namroush said Haftar should be sent to jail for committing 'war crimes' and that his involvement in mass slaughter had become evident after the discovery of mass graves in Tarhouna, a province that was controlled by one of the militias loyal to Haftar. Six of Haftar's officers were also named in the warrant issued by the military prosecutor general, which was published by the unity government's press office. With Libya on the brink of another civil war, foreign powers are already jostling for the spoils ... France . Locals blamed Haftar's forces for the shelling, saying the rockets had been fired from the direction of his positions south of the capital. EPA. On the diplomatic front, France backs the UN-sponsored peace process between Libya’s main competing leaders, including the GNA’s Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Haftar. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. France has come to realize that warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya is a “liability,” according to the Financial Times on Monday. France denied the accusations and reaffirmed its support for the government in Tripoli. In Libya, Marshal Haftar Is Suffering Setbacks, France Too. Deby is a key ally of France’s anti-Islamist Operation Barkhane in … France rejects Libya's 'unfounded' claim it supports militia leader Khalifa Haftar. For one, it has violated the UN arms embargo on several occasions. Haftar has ignored international calls for a halt to his advance on Tripoli, launched while UN Secretary-General. Written by: SafaAlharathy. The interior ministry of Libya’s internationally recognised government onThursday accused France directly for the first time of … 18 Apr 2019 ; Forces loyal to GNA gesture after taking control of the area of Al Aziziyah, located some 40 km south of Tripoli. Speaking to France 24, Al Namroush described French support to Haftar as a “shameful act", saying the warlord is a ‘war criminal’ who has no place in Libya's future, which includes the process of political resolution. The minister also said that Haftar’s forces were violating the ceasefire agreed upon by both camps in October as part of the 5+5 military commission. In Libya, Marshal Haftar Is Suffering Setbacks, France Too. #GNA's Minister of Interior Bashagha demands that the head of the international relations & cooperation committee cease all its bilateral activities and agreements with #France (including in security cooperation) due to #Paris' relentless backing of #Haftar. These links go back to 2011, but which Paris was not forcedto acknowledge until the summer of 2016, when three French NCOs of the DGSE on “commanded service” died in a heli… Ahmed Jadallahi, REUTERS | Protesters demand an end to the Khalifa Haftar's offensive on the Tripoli, in Martyrs Square, Tripoli, Libya April 12, 2019. Haftar’s Benghazi-based LNA has become bogged down in the southern suburbs of the capital. Contradicting the UN's position on the Libyan conflict, which was to assist Sarraj's government and involve other rival forces for a peaceful transition of power, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian previously expressed support for the Egyptian air strikes against the GNA. Why is there war in Libya? Matteo Salvini, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, last year accused France of supporting Haftar and showing "no interest in stabilising the situation". Al-Namroush spoke to France 24 and described in an interview Haftar as a ‘war criminal’, … France supporting Haftar: Libya. With the support of mercenaries, Haftar attacked the south of Libya at a time when the Tripoli government respected the ceasefire agreement, he added. "We say to the United Nations and the Security Council: listen. Its troops have won back control of several cities from the forces of Field Marshal Haftar, albeit with Turkish support but also with that of a population apparently hostile to the idea of a … Rockets are coming down on us. It is on this basis that the nature of France’s relationship with Haftar is most relevant. But it is, in fact, Haftar, who is attacking the same government, to whom the favours of France go. For this reason, please find a solution for us," said Youssef Salem, a displaced man from al-Suani. - 'A big shock' - France has long had contact with Haftar, who was invited to Paris alongside Sarraj in 2017, in what was seen as an … The shelling came a day after seven people were killed when Grad rockets hit a densely populated district of Tripoli, which the LNA has been trying to take, deepening the chaos that has plagued the. “The support France has provided to the putschist and pirate Haftar… has exacerbated the crisis in Libya,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. "Furthermore, the president's legitimate interlocutor is Prime Minister Sarraj, with whom the president spoke on Monday to reaffirm this support.". France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines. Khalifa Haftar خليفة حفتر Haftar in 2011 Birth nameKhalifa Belqasim Haftar Born1943 Ajdabiya, Italian Libya Allegiance Kingdom of Libya Libyan Arab Republic Libyan Arab Jamahiriya National Front for the Salvation of Libya State of Libya Service/branchLibyan National Army Years of service1966–1987; 2011–present Rank Field Marshal Commands heldLibyan National Army Battles/wars Yom Kippur War C… This site uses cookies. The French government has acknowledged providing intelligence to Haftar, whom it considers an important ally in the fight against terrorism. Although French media claims France was interested in resolving the Libyan conflict through peaceful means, the country has gone out of its way to ensure Haftar and his militias were fully armed, even deploying French special forces to train the warlord's men. Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha directed the head of the international relations and cooperation committee under the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) to cease all its bilateral activities and agreements (including security cooperation) due to France’s “relentless backing” of Haftar, tweeted London-based counter-terrorism expert Emad Badi. Within this regional framework, a Libya ruled by Haftar, or someone with a similar ideology, appears to be a logical, almost self-evident objective to pursue. A January offensive by his LNA forced militants opposed to Chad’s President Idriss Deby out of southern Libya. Reteriating the GNA’s commitment to the 5+5 military  agreement, Al Namroush said Haftar continues to wage war with the help of foreign mercenaries as he recently attacked several provinces in the southern part of the country. Which way is the Libyan civil war headed? The French newspaper Le Monde quoted a French source as saying on Saturday, that Paris is seeking a return to stability and order in Libya by enabling Haftar to take over the country. A picture is worth a thousand words. © 2020 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. And France has refrained from criticizing the UAE for violating international law by delivering weapons to Haftar and operating an air base in eastern Libya. In July 2019, a Pentagon investigation concluded that Paris had supplied American-made anti-tank missiles to Haftar's forces. Salah al Namroush, the defence minister of the UN-backed government of GNA in Libya on Friday reproached France for throwing its weight behind warlord Khalifa Haftar. "As we have already stated on several occasions: France supports the legitimate government of Prime Minister (Fayez al-)Sarraj and the mediation of the UN for an inclusive political solution in Libya," a French presidential official said. A summit in Berlin on 19 January, attended by the United Nations and world powers, including Russia, Turkey, France and the UK, have so far failed to bear concrete results. This is one of the motives behind France and Italy’s tensionson the Libyan issue. Toll for armed conflict in #Tripoli is 205 dead and 913 wounded. France had backed Haftar, putting Paris at odds with its EU partners. France denies supporting Haftar, saying it has contact with all the actors in war-ravaged Libya where a complex mosaic of militias and political factions are competing for advantage. "It is shame on the government of France and [President Emmanuel] Macron to receive one like Haftar for years," Namroush said in an interview with France 24 television. STIRRING THE POT Paris insists that it is committed to upholding the UN-backed Libyan political agreement while recommending that it be amended to … Al Namorush added that the GNA is ready to engage in military battle against the warlord and his forces should the ceasefire were not to hold. Libya's internationally recognised government accused France Thursday of supporting rebel commander Khalifa Haftar and said it would halt cooperation with Paris. France concedes Haftar in Libya is a 'liability' Turkey turned the tide of Libyan conflict against warlord Khalifa Haftar, whose only European ally was France 06.07.2020 The head of the Libyan National Army (ANL) was again received by Emmanuel Macron on 9 March — for the fourth time in three years. Sarraj unveils 'initiative' to end Libyan 'crisis'. He also brushed aside France’s criticism of Turkey’s role in Libya, arguing that the strategic partnership between the GNA and Ankara was "clear and public", while the arrangements between Haftar and his foreign backers are made in secret. The Defense Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), Salah Al-Namroush, said it was a “shame” that France had supported Khalifa Haftar for years and expressed hope that it would change its position. Al Namroush indicated that the GNA was ready to engage in talks to forge a political solution, only on the condition, however, that warlord Haftar is sidelined once and for all. "Any dealings with the French side in bilateral security agreements" will halt, the interior ministry in Tripoli said in a statement. From Morocco to Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, and beyond, a wide area of French influence is tentatively emerging in Africa and the Middle East. He reportedly convinced President Emmanual Macron that Libya was a "low-hanging fruit" and Haftar was the man to place all the bets on. Paris does not want to isolate itself from the man helping it to gain influence in Libya. France under pressure to condemn Haftar's assault on Tripoli as EU seeks unity on Libya crisis. Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning, Take international news everywhere with you! The Defense Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), Salah Al-Namroush, said it was a “shame” that France had supported Khalifa Haftar for years and expressed hope that it would change its position. #Libya pic.twitter.com/MneJ5EfAld, >> Read more: 'How the West's silence emboldened Libya's Haftar'. France was the only European country to back Haftar against the internationally-recognized government in Tripoli, which has recently been boosted by Turkey's support that has changed the course of the … On the other side, Haftar made no secret of the ties with France nor about the modern weaponry he had received from Paris despite a U.N. arms embargo on Libya. Speaking to France 24, Al Namroush described French support to Haftar as a “shameful act", saying the warlord is a ‘war criminal’ who has no place … Libyan Defense Minister Salah Eddine Namroush has described France's support to eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar as "shame". The dominant view in government circles in Paris is that strongman solutions are the only way to keep a lid on Islamist … The LNA has denied shelling residential areas. Haftar, who controls eastern Libya from his stronghold outside Benghazi, grabbed key oilfields operated by Italy’s Eni in the south earlier this year before turning his guns on the capital. Along the way, Paris ended up antagonising its NATO partner, Italy. GNA Prime Minister Fayez al Sarraj in April accused the Macron administration of backing a "dictator.". FRANCE 24 spoke to Salah el Din Al-Namroush, the Defence Minister of Libya's government of national accord, which is recognised by the United Nations. The tide is turning in favour of the coalition in power in Tripoli. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, of the anti-immigrant League party, accused France of cooperating with Haftar. April 14, 2019 - 16:50. The arrest warrant came as fighting intensified in the southwestern Tripoli suburb of Al-Suani with heavy shelling and mortar fire. The tide is turning in favour of the coalition in power in Tripoli. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for all latest in-depth, on the ground reporting from around the world. Each missile is worth $170,000 and the US only sells it to "close allies," such as France. Lethal A.I. France has come to realize that warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya is a “liability,” according to the Financial Times on Monday. Warning Haftar against further attacks, Al Namroush said the GNA's patience was wearing thin and it is on the brink of pulling out of the 5+5 military commission, which was set up by the UN to monitor the ceasefire deal. Medical specialists that WHO #Libya deployed to support frontline hospitals are helping perform dozens of surgeries. Follow us on Instagram. Libya’s eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar has told France’s president he will sign a ceasefire and stick to it if militias backed by the internationally recognized government respect it, Reuters reported, citing a French presidency official. France is under growing pressure to condemn Haftar's advance on the capital Tripoli -- rather than blame all sides of the conflict, like in the G7 Foreign Ministers statement issued last week. LONDON. I support everything that strengthens the security of French people and the countries that are friends of France. Haftar fought against terrorism in Benghazi and in southern Libya and that was in our interest, and that of the Sahel countries and Libya’s neighbors. Khalifa Haftar a notamment été soigné en France en avril 2018. France, however, denied the allegation and said it supported the Libyan government in Tripoli. Show people, places and other topics in this story. drones are no longer fictional, but a dangerous fact, The traumatic and arbitrary nature of Israeli raids on Palestinian homes, UK MPs seek sanctions on Saudis, but human rights accountability distant. It is on this basis that the nature of France’s relationship with Haftar is most relevant. Why is there war in Libya? France has always denied arming Gen Haftar's forces, but has offered diplomatic support. France has come to realize that warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya is a "liability," according to the Financial Times on Monday. It is with some irony that the French Ambassador to Libya expressed “being deeply shocked” to discover Haftar’s cohorts were marching on Tripoli in … The UN-recognised government seeks urgent answers after Paris conceded its missiles were found with pro- Haftar forces. ... Read: 'France is complicit in Libya's mass graves crime,' says Turkish official. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Should Turkey stop importing them? Calling Khalifa Haftar a ‘war criminal’, Defence Minister Salah Al-Namroush says the warlord continues to violate the ceasefire with the help of foreign mercenaries. While the Italians are focusing their efforts on the GNA and confining their relations with Haftar to mere protocol visits, France seems to have a far closer and … France supporting Haftar: Libya 18 Apr 2019 Forces loyal to GNA gesture after taking control of the area of Al Aziziyah, located some … Mortars crashed down on Al-Suani on Thursday, almost hitting a clinic and adding to people's suffering after two weeks of an offensive by Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA). Agence France-Presse . He described Italy as … Haftar has ignored international calls for a halt to his advance on Tripoli, launched while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was visiting Tripoli on April 4 in a bid to jumpstart a peace process between rival Libyan camps. France wants Haftar to rule Libya. The GNA on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Haftar for allegedly ordering deadly air strikes against civilian areas. GNA’s military prosecutor issues arrest warrant against renegade General Khalifa Haftar and 6 other LNA officials following the bombing of residential areas in tripoli with heavy artillery https://t.co/LsiJaMIT3d. Because "the defeated has no ally," France abandoned Haftar, as did Sudan and Greece, as Italy did before them. Its troops have won back control of several cities from the forces of Field Marshal Haftar, albeit with Turkish support but also with that of a population apparently hostile to the idea of a military … While the Italians are focusing their efforts on the GNA and confining their relations with Haftar to mere protocol visits, France seems to have a far closer and … Tunisia will help stability efforts in Libya – Turkey, Arrest warrants issued for Haftar, three commanders in Libya, No ceasefire for now in Libya – Haftar tells Macron, Europe’s far-right parties make headway amid Covid-19 pandemic, Friends, the virus and the future: a chat with revered Ferzan Ozpetek, No one left outside: Istanbul and Ankara shelter the homeless in hotels, 2020 Human Development Report urgently calls for nature-based development.