France, however, denied the allegation and said it supported the Libyan government in Tripoli. 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 … "Furthermore, the president's legitimate interlocutor is Prime Minister Sarraj, with whom the president spoke on Monday to reaffirm this support.". “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. France called on Monday for talks among NATO allies on what it said was Turkey’s increasingly “aggressive” role in Libya. Ahmed Jadallahi, REUTERS | Protesters demand an end to the Khalifa Haftar's offensive on the Tripoli, in Martyrs Square, Tripoli, Libya April 12, 2019. In Libya, Marshal Haftar Is Suffering Setbacks, France Too. ... "Les agissements des milices militaires sous le commandement d'Haftar en Libye entravent en premier lieu les efforts internationaux visant à asseoir un dialogue national libyen", accuse fréquemment Doha. 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. This is one of the motives behind France and Italy’s tensionson the Libyan issue. 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… 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… 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 … 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. Along the way, Paris ended up antagonising its NATO partner, Italy. The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. This site uses cookies. 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 … 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. 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 … The French government has acknowledged providing intelligence to Haftar, whom it considers an important ally in the fight against terrorism. STIRRING THE POT Paris insists that it is committed to upholding the UN-backed Libyan political agreement while recommending that it be amended to … #Libya pic.twitter.com/MneJ5EfAld, >> Read more: 'How the West's silence emboldened Libya's Haftar'. In July 2019, a Pentagon investigation concluded that Paris had supplied American-made anti-tank missiles to Haftar's forces. 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. #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. 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. Because "the defeated has no ally," France abandoned Haftar, as did Sudan and Greece, as Italy did before them. France’s support for Libya’s Haftar is finally coming home to roost. 18 Apr 2019 ; Forces loyal to GNA gesture after taking control of the area of Al Aziziyah, located some 40 km south of Tripoli. Each missile is worth $170,000 and the US only sells it to "close allies," such as France. 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.. Haftar has ignored international calls for a halt to his advance on Tripoli, launched while UN Secretary-General. Since the event, France has time and again come under international scrutiny over its role in Libya's civil war. 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). Sarraj unveils 'initiative' to end Libyan 'crisis'. Why is there war in Libya? Haftar’s Benghazi-based LNA has become bogged down in the southern suburbs of the capital. 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. Toll for armed conflict in #Tripoli is 205 dead and 913 wounded. Which way is the Libyan civil war headed? 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. Issued on: 18/04/2019 - 19:55Modified: 19/04/2019 - 08:04. The Libyan Defence Minister expressed doubts on the planned elections in December 2021, saying such a democratic exercise is conducive to a relaxed atmosphere. ... Read: 'France is complicit in Libya's mass graves crime,' says Turkish 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. Written by: SafaAlharathy. pic.twitter.com/94zXHzsQq1. 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 … Libya's internationally recognised government accused France Thursday of supporting rebel commander Khalifa Haftar and said it would halt cooperation with Paris. 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. France had backed Haftar, putting Paris at odds with its EU partners. 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. 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. It is on this basis that the nature of France’s relationship with Haftar is most relevant. For one, it has violated the UN arms embargo on several occasions. France rejects Libya's 'unfounded' claim it supports militia leader Khalifa Haftar. 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. LONDON. The tide is turning in favour of the coalition in power in Tripoli. 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. 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. A picture is worth a thousand words. Plastics aren’t going anywhere. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 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. Libyan Defense Minister Salah Eddine Namroush has described France's support to eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar as "shame". France wants Haftar to rule Libya. 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. 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. He described Italy as … The LNA has denied shelling residential areas. France has thus far feigned ignorance over supplying weapons and offering logistical support to Haftar's forces. 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. “There is a Libyan crisis … The French government has acknowledged providing intelligence to Haftar, whom it considers an important ally in the fight against terrorism. Libya asks France to explain how its arms reached Haftar 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. The GNA on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Haftar for allegedly ordering deadly air strikes against civilian areas. France has come to realize that warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya is a "liability," according to the Financial Times on Monday. was visiting Tripoli on April 4 in a bid to jumpstart a peace process between rival Libyan camps.