With the recent suspicious movements of military militias led by Khalifa Haftar towards southwest Libya, Algeria’s border area remains threatened by the possibility of regional escalation and civil war, which could disrupt the country and affect its regional environment, particularly Algeria, which faces armed unrest on its eastern and western borders.
Faced with these tensions, Algeria continues to coordinate its efforts with influential countries in Libya to achieve a peaceful solution ending more than a decade of chaos.
Professor of political science and international relations Mabrouk Kahi said the military movements of militias led by Khalifa Haftar towards southwest Libya fit into the agendas of international powers and client states in the region, aiming to create more chaos and prolong the crisis. These movements coincide with his son’s visits to African Sahel countries, as well as pro-Haftar visits and delegations to several Middle Eastern countries.
Kahi stressed that “the timing is not innocent, because it coincides with the presidential elections in Algeria and Tunisia. What Haftar seeks to do is strengthen his influence over Libya’s two western neighbors and strangle the national unity government in Tripoli, given that he failed to invade and overthrow Tripoli, and that he failed to obtain international legitimacy for his parallel government in Benghazi.”
“What is happening in western Libya is linked to the situation in northern Mali”
Professor of political science Khaled Khalif, for his part, attributed Haftar’s movements towards southwest Libya to several regional reasons, notably developments in northern Mali, considering that certain international parties seek to fuel the conflict by Libya.
“The movement of Haftar’s forces towards southwest Libya takes place in several contexts, including continued coordination with the Egyptian side following the visit of the director of Egyptian intelligence services to Benghazi, Haftar’s stronghold, a few years ago. days”, he explains, adding that “this displacement can also be linked to what is happening in northern Mali and to the superiority of the Tuareg movements over the Wagner militias and the military power in Mali, while “also part of the ambitions of Haftar and his allies to extend their control over western Libya.”
Regarding the impact of these movements on Algeria, the political analyst stressed that there is “a very significant impact because there is a common border between the two countries which extends over 600 km, requiring security and preparations in the event of mass migrations of people fleeing armed combat. Furthermore, the security disorder could provide opportunities for cross-border terrorist groups and organized crime elements, thus putting security services on high alert, in addition to what is happening on the Malian border.
Doctor Khaled Khalif believes that Algeria has a clear position on Libya, calling for a resolution of the Libyan crisis between the Libyans themselves and through peaceful and friendly means, while affirming that it deals with internationally recognized legitimate authority based in Tripoli. He stressed that Algeria is well aware that certain international parties wish to fuel the conflict in Libya, as happened in Mali when the military power renounced the reconciliation pact sponsored by Algeria.
