Saddam Haftar Strengthens Grip on Eastern Libya After Parliamentary Coup

In eastern Libya, Saddam Haftar is methodically consolidating power following the footsteps of his father, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the 82-year-old strongman of Cyrenaica whose reach extends into the Fezzan region. The 1991-born heir recently eliminated a significant rival by having Aguila Saleh, also 82, removed from the chair of the House of Representatives that meets in Benghazi. Saleh, a historic figure in Cyrenaican politics, had been instrumental in bringing the parliament under the marshal’s control after the country’s practical division in 2014 and remained a loyal ally.

However, he grew increasingly uneasy with the new clan configuration that elevated Saddam, prompting the marshal’s green light for his dismissal. The shift marks a pivotal step in the younger Haftar’s quest to dominate the political landscape of eastern Libya.