In Paris, the son of Khalifa Haftar is trying to forge links with Prime Minister Dbaiba. For what reasons and with what arguments?
November 2021. While the Elysée and the Quai d'Orsay organized the "Paris Conference on Libya", six weeks before the elections which were then scheduled for December 24, a man had hit the headlines: the son of Khalifa Haftar, Belkacem Haftar, had arrived by private jet to participate in what was to be, on the part of Paris, a international rallying operation behind the Marshal for the election. Finally, the son of the soldier had to take his plane and turn back, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi having invited himself on the list of potential candidates.
Almost five months later, the son of Khalifa Haftar is again regularly in Paris. But no question for him to indulge in tourism. Belkacem Haftar is indeed in the French capital for a good reason: to play matchmaker between his father and Abdel Hamid Dbaiba.
A real game of musical chairs. While the two Prime Ministers Abdel Hamid Dbeibah and Fathi Bachagha are at loggerheads, Bachagha recently announced that he had allied himself with the former head of the Presidential Council Ahmed Miitig and with… Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
However, according to Africa Intelligence, Belkacem Haftar is currently increasing meetings with “the first lieutenants of the rival clan of Abdel Hamid Dbaiba”. Secret negotiations that could lead to a crisis resolution that would consist of Dbaiba's departure from the prime minister's office. But what could the Prime Minister benefit from in exchange for leaving?
The consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
As we know, Dbaiba refuses to give way to Fathi Bachagha, appointed last February. The Haftar son must therefore necessarily have some arguments to try to convince Ibrahim Dbaiba, the closest adviser to the Prime Minister who refuses to let go of his post, or even the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla al-Mangoush, that he has met last March.
However, assures Africa Intelligence, the talks have so far not led to any agreement in principle. But Haftar son does not intend to stop there. Still in Paris, he plans to summon other relatives of Dbaiba.
According to the French newspaper, Belkacem Haftar also intends to try to go through Ankara. Turkey has supported Dbaiba and his government, so could be of great help to the Haftar clan. The marshal's son would thus have met Hakan Fidan, head of Turkish intelligence, with representatives of Fathi Bachagha.
If we still do not know what the outcome of the discussions will be, one thing is certain: for Haftar, time is running out. The conflict in Ukraine did not help the marshal, who enjoyed strong Russian support. However, this may well weaken it vis-à-vis Europe and the United States, which are increasing the sanctions against the Russians. Without Wagner or even without the Muscovite armament, Haftar could be weakened. Today, he absolutely needs a weighty, stable alliance that will stand the test of time.