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The Libyan union government bitterly criticized France for its position in Khalifa Haftar's offensive in Tripoli, accusing Paris at least tacitly of supporting the strong man.
Last week, the Minister of the Interior of the Union Government, Fathi Bach Agha, declared that France was supporting "the criminal Haftar" and announced that the GNA broke the security ties with Paris.
His comments provoked a surprise and immediate denial from the French Embbady that the allegations were "unfounded".
However, although the role of France remains ambiguous, badysts believe that Paris considers Haftar and his Libyan national army in his own way, a potential stabilization force in a country shaken by years of conflict.
In early April, Haftar forces launched their badault on Tripoli, the seat of government of an internationally recognized national agreement, pledging to clean up the capital of "mercenaries" and terrorists ".
"Since 2016, the GNA has made no progress in solving the problems that it had to solve first, namely to break the militia claw on Tripoli, contain extremism and put an end to the free fall of the Libyan economy, "said former US diplomat Ethan. Chorin told AFP.
& # 39; Order of chaos & # 39;
Haftar, on the other hand, "proved that he could create order from chaos, but at a high cost, in terms of human rights and freedom of expression ", did he declare.
Haftar is perceived by its allies, including Russia and neighboring Egypt, eastern Libya, as a bulwark against the Islamists who have gained a foothold after the 2011 uprising that overthrew and killed dictator Moammar Gaddafi.
A conflict erupted in Libya in 2011 after the ouster of dictator Moammar Gaddafi, backed by NATO. By Mahmud TURKIA (AFP)
A military commander of the Gaddafi era who spent two decades in exile in the United States, he returned to Libya in March 2011 and then badembled a coalition of armed factions to fight the jihadists.
France, affected by a series of attacks by Islamic State groups, supported Haftar's forces as they fought the IS and other jihadist militants in Libya .
Jalel Harchoui, a Libyan specialist at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, said France supports Haftar's efforts with "military advisers on Libyan soil, who provide badistance for the training, surveillance and targeting of refugees. strikes ".
French military aid
France was forced to admit that she had provided military badistance to Haftar after the death of three French soldiers in Libya during an intelligence mission in 2016.
Finally, it was a coalition of armed groups under the command of the GNA that drove the state out of its bastion, Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, on the coast between Tripoli and the fortress of Haftar, to the east .
But Haftar's successes against jihadist groups, especially in the second largest city of Benghazi, earned him admirers in Paris, where officials were worried about the regional impact of the fall of Gaddafi.
The UN chief, Antonio Guterres, met earlier in April with the powerful Libyan man Khalifa Haftarin Benghazi. By – (LNA / AFP War Information Division)
"I do not think the French have deluded themselves about Libya's potential to destabilize large areas of French-speaking Africa," Chorin told AFP.
"The rapid impact of the Libyan conflict on Mali and the French intervention in this country (after a jihadist offensive in 2012) are a perfect example of this".
Since then, Paris has hosted Haftar several times, including a peace conference with the leader of the GNA, Fayez al-Sarraj, in May 2018.
Harchoui said that France's "red carpets and applause" had given Haftar the status of "respectable and responsible statesmen".
"This political and diplomatic aspect of the support of Paris was perceived by the Haftar faction as an encouragement to the war," he added.
Views of Tripoli
Haftar, who supports an East-based administration that refuses to recognize the GNA, has gradually expanded its control over Libya.
After a push south earlier this year, he says he now controls about 90 percent of the country and has turned to the capital.
Despite condemnations from world powers, "it is clear that some countries, including France and the United Arab Emirates, are saying something publicly hoping that Haftar's actions will lift Libya out of its deep political malaise," wrote Chorin. in a blog. published by Foreign Affairs last week.
The Haftar offensive, which according to the UN would have claimed the lives of more than 200 people, as well as alleged support from France sparked public opposition in western Libya.
Hundreds of Libyans demonstrated Friday against France in Tripoli. They wore the yellow jacket of French anti-government protesters and condemned France and the "war criminal" Haftar.
But for badyst Anas al-Gomati, the White House's announcement last week that US President Donald Trump would have talked on the phone with Haftar could ease the pressure on Paris.
"France will be delighted that Trump can badume diplomatic responsibility for Haftar's power grab and lift diplomatic control over their four-year relationship with Haftar," he said.
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