On 15 October, Russian media Sputnik released an interview of Eastern Libyan Khalifa Haftar, discussing the fighting in Tripoli between Haftar’s allied Libyan National Army (LNA) forces and the factions aligned with the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) as well Haftar’s ambitions regarding elections in Libya.In the interview, Haftar claims to be defending Tripoli, and not attacking it and deplores the impact the conflict has had on civilians. Haftar provides Sputnik with a lengthy explanation of his ambitions regarding Libya, advocating that the international community should support the LNA and the offensive on Tripoli as a measure to restore stability in Libya, and denouncing the weakness of the GNA.This interview by Russian-media Sputnik seems to stand as an attempt to portray Haftar under a different light, countering the mainstream representation of Haftar as a renegade war lord.Click here to read the article.
Africa, Airstrikes, Anti-LNA coalition, GNA, Governance, Haftar, Libyan Army/Militias, LNA, Russia, Security, Tripoli
Sputnik interviews Khalifa Haftar as fighting rages in Tripoli