Khalifa Haftar and Emmanuel Macron deepen Franco-Libyan cooperation

The commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, met with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysée Palace. During the meeting, the French president praised Haftar's role in the Libyan political process and emphasised the efforts of his forces to maintain stability in all areas of the country.

According to the Libyan press office, both leaders agreed on the need to increase support efforts for United Nations missions. This convenience arises after the lifting of UN sanctions that prevented Libya from receiving material considered to be dual-use: civil and military. 

Strategic issues formed part of the talks, as Libya possesses a multitude of land in the southern region of the country with an abundance of mineral resources, which can be transported to France by different routes through the Sahara Desert. 

France has been a key player in Libyan politics, always supporting the formation of a unified government. However, despite attempts to achieve the total unification of the country, political divisions and security problems continue to exist in the North African country. Achieving total unity is the dream of the vast majority of Libyans, who hope that the United Nations will recognise the legitimacy of the Parliament, to which Tripoli refuses to yield. 

This state visit by Haftar reflects the ongoing international and regional efforts to resolve the political crisis that the country has been going through since two governments were established: one based in Benghazi and represented by the House of Representatives, which has the support of the Parliament and of Haftar and the Libyan National Army; and another based in Tripoli, now headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, leader of the Government of National Unity. All this after years of civil war between the opposing parties fighting for power after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. 

Haftar's leadership has been key to curbing the proliferation of terrorist attacks and organised crime. This was confirmed by the Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdul Hadi Al-Hawaij, with the reduction of the actions of the mafias on the coasts controlled by the LNA. These are facts that, on the contrary, do not happen in the part governed by Dbeiba. 

On the other hand, the talks also dealt with the importance of Russia and Belarus and the role of France in the military management of the El Ouigh military base in the south of the country.