Haftar's military moves threaten Algeria

The movement of military units of Libya's eastern strongman, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, to areas in the southwest is causing regional tensions that could particularly affect Algeria. 

According to Al-Arab, Haftar's military units have targeted the southwestern regions - under the pretext of protecting the borders - but their focus is on the city and airport of Ghadames, near the border with Algeria, adding another dimension to the operation.   

Analysts quoted by the Arab media have pointed out that Haftar is beginning to implement a Russian-led plan to further extend his influence in Libya, using the territory as a rear base to penetrate the Sahel region. 

Moscow seeks to establish a strategic corridor stretching from Libya to the Gulf of Guinea via its new allies in the Sahel, such as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. 

This project further isolates Algeria regionally amid its estrangement from Mali, Niger and Russia.  

Although the chief of staff of the Libyan army confirmed that the operation aimed at restoring security and stability in the southwest of the country and controlling the borders does not target any of the neighbouring countries - such as Algeria and Tunisia - warnings from UN and EU representatives have been quick to express concern about Haftar's moves. 

The chief of staff of the General Command Ground Forces, headed by Saddam Haftar, son of Field Marshal Haftar, reportedly confirmed that "the movement of his units to the southwest is part of a comprehensive plan to secure the southern border and improve national security in this strategic region by intensifying patrols and monitoring of the desert in the border strip with neighbouring countries". He also stressed that "this measure does not target anyone".

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, he said that "the measure comes in implementation of the instructions of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the framework of strengthening border security and confronting any threat that may target the security and stability of the homeland, and that military units have been moved to the assigned areas to secure them". 

It also stressed that "these movements are aimed at strengthening the security of the border and southern areas, especially in the face of tension in neighbouring countries and the possibility of gang and extremist group activity".

The communiqué refers to the tension in northern Mali, especially that related to the battle in which the Malian army and Wagner's forces suffered an unprecedented defeat, especially as Azawad nationalism - which opposes the Bamako regime - spans the borders between Mali, Niger, Algeria, and even Libya. This has led Haftar's forces to besiege Azawad's armed factions within their borders. 

However, Haftar's alliance with Russia and other countries in the region places his military action in a framework that not only includes the internal situation in Libya, but also extends to a regional agenda aimed at strengthening the Sahel countries' alliance with Russia and eliminating armed separatists.  

The Supreme State Council expressed its deep concern and rejection of these military moves in the southwest region, calling them "suspicious" and "illegitimate", and describing them as "a blatant and clear effort by Haftar's forces to increase influence and control over important strategic areas with neighbouring countries", referring to the intention of these forces to control the Ghadames border crossing with Algeria.  

This crossing between Algeria and Libya remains closed to traffic despite the two governments' agreement to open it in recent years. Due to Haftar's warnings and fears that the move would lead to armed clashes, the operation was suspended and postponed. 

Relations between Algeria and Haftar have not been good since 2020, when Algiers tried to push for solutions to resolve the Libyan crisis. Previously, Haftar had threatened to "advance militarily against Algeria". Algeria, for its part, supports the Tripoli government led by Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, but insists on the need for legitimate elections in Libya.  

Although Algeria has not yet officially commented on the movement of Haftar's forces along the joint border, Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, during a meeting with the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Stephanie Khoury, rejected the foreign presence in Libya as playing roles hostile to Algeria's interests in the Sahel region.