Libya : Eastern Commander Haftar Wants Elections

The Eastern Commander of the Libyan National Army, (LNA) Khalifa Haftar has announced “a final opportunity” to draw up a road map for elections. The commander made the announcement on Saturday December 24, 2022 while presiding celebrations marking the 71st Anniversary of the country’s independence. The information which was broadcast by Libyan al-Hadath TV comes a year to the day rival factions agreed to hold the polls. Speaking in Libya’s second largest city of Benghazi's Keesh Square, home to his forces, Khalifa Haftar stressed the need for Libya’s unity, adding that his forces won't allow any interventions in the country. He stressed the need for a fair distribution of oil revenues without marginalization of any region, remarking that “only the Libyans are able to solve their problem and establish a unified Libyan state.”
Before his speech at the Keesh Square, it has been rumoured that Haftar is plaining to announce that the areas controlled by his forces in eastern and southern Libya are autonomous from the rest of Libya to pave the way for secession from the State of Libya in its current shape. Though sources close to Haftar confirmed the latter’s intention to declare self-governance on the day of the Anniversary of independence on December 24. However, the same sources confirmed on Friday night that Haftar has been obliged to suspend intention after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aqila Saleh, and the Head of the High Council of State, Khalid Al-Mishri, announced the resumption of dialogue to reach a constitutional basis for holding elections. In a...