Haftar: Power Struggles and Corruption Have Stalled State-Building — Time for an Organized, Peaceful Mobilization

Libya – Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, General Commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, said Libya is at a decisive juncture that requires the Libyan people to move to rescue the country from its political crisis, stressing that the armed forces will stand with the people in their organized, peaceful mobilization to determine their destiny and build their state.

Meeting with Zintan Elders at “Al-Mushir” Military City in Benghazi
Haftar delivered his remarks during a meeting with the sheikhs and notables of the city of Zintan at Al-Mushir Military City in Benghazi, where he welcomed them and voiced pride in their national positions and historic role in preserving the country’s unity and stability.
“The city of Zintan—its people and its sheikhs—represents one of the main pillars of Libya’s stability and balance,” he said, noting that “any position it adopts resonates across the country due to its standing and national weight.” He added that their presence affirms Libyan unity and the rejection of all calls to strife and division.

Power and Wealth Rivalries at the Heart of the Crisis
The General Commander explained that despite the sacrifices of the Libyan people and the gains made by the armed forces in security and stabilization, Libya still faces challenges that impede the building of a sovereign, independent state.
He said power struggles—clinging to authority for influence and wealth and to evade justice—are the primary obstacle to state-building, exacerbating the political crisis and perpetuating chaos.

Call for an Organized, Peaceful Movement Under Army Protection
“It is time for the people to sound the alarm and assume their responsibility in an organized, peaceful movement protected by the armed forces, where they express their demands clearly,” Haftar said. He stressed that the competent authorities would be obliged to respond to these demands without delay, warning that anyone who stands against the people’s will “will find the armed forces ready to confront them.”

The Army Does Not Draw the Roadmap—It Lays the Facts Before the People
Haftar affirmed that the General Command cannot substitute for the people in charting the roadmap to state-building, but is duty-bound to present the facts to them with complete honesty and clarity. He warned that the continuation of the current situation threatens the country’s unity, resources, economy, and sovereignty.

Affirmation of Libya’s Unity and Independence
Concluding his address, Haftar expressed hope that the Libyan people would reclaim their right to decide their fate and put an end to the political disorder that has exhausted the country. “We want to see a safe and stable Libya, where the people are sovereign on their land, living in security and peace, and investing their wealth in development and construction,” he said.
He also extended his appreciation to the people of Zintan, noting that the next meeting may be held in their city, God willing, when the country is in a better state.