Haftar: Time for Libyans to Decide Their Fate — “Either the State or Chaos”
Libya — Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, the General Commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, said during a meeting with the sheikhs and notables of the city of Tarhuna that Libya is at a critical turning point that requires a decisive national stance. He urged the public to launch an organized and peaceful movement to determine the country’s future and rescue it from “chaos and corruption.”
Welcoming Tarhuna’s Elders and Their Support
Haftar opened his remarks by greeting the delegation from Tarhuna: “Welcome, esteemed sheikhs and wise men of Tarhuna, a city that paid a heavy price for siding with the battle of Dignity and the armed forces.”
He said the backing of Libya’s sheikhs and elders for the armed forces is a source of pride before the Libyan people and the world, adding that such support strengthens the resolve to continue working for “a dignified and safe life for all Libyans and a comprehensive national revival.”
Overcoming Hardships and Consolidating Stability
Haftar noted that, with God’s help and the determination of its members, the armed forces have overcome the difficult challenges they faced in their pursuit of security and stability. He stressed that the General Command personally confronted threats to the country’s unity and territorial integrity and took the decisions needed to surmount them and move forward.
A Call for a Nationwide, Peaceful Mobilization
“The current phase does not tolerate delay,” Haftar said. “The time has come for an organized, peaceful movement through which the people decide their fate: either the state or chaos; either sovereignty or subservience; either renaissance and progress or poverty and backwardness.”
He emphasized that it is the people—not the General Command—who must make the decisive choice in the political crisis, after local and international efforts failed to resolve it. He called on Libyans to reject tutelage and stand up to anyone seeking to impose their will on the country.
Warning Against Misrule and Corruption
Haftar said the people cannot accept that their homeland become “a testing ground, an arena for power and wealth struggles, and an open space for recklessness and the looting of public funds.” He called for an end to such practices, warning that “anyone who stands in the way of the people’s decision will find themselves facing the armed forces.”
Unity of the Homeland and Shared Destiny
Concluding his address, Haftar renewed his welcome to the attendees and affirmed that “the doors of the General Command, and the hearts of its men, are open to everyone at all times.” He added: “We are brothers in good times and bad. Our past is one, our present is one, and our future is one. Our state is Libya—one and indivisible.”
