Saddam Haftar assumes acting command of Libyan National Army

Saddam Haftar, son of Libya’s eastern military leader Khalifa Haftar, has been designated as the acting commander general of the Libyan National Army (LNA). While Khalifa Haftar has not formally relinquished his command, official communications from the LNA general command now identify Saddam as the “commander general in charge of the armed forces,” a significant elevation from his previous role as deputy commander general.

This leadership shift appears to be part of a broader effort to consolidate power within the Haftar family, which maintains control over much of eastern Libya and Cyrenaica. Other family members have also taken key roles, including Khaled Haftar as chief of staff and Belgacem Haftar in reconstruction projects.

Simultaneously, Saddam Haftar is expanding his influence through regional security mediation in the Sahel. He recently orchestrated the transfer of American hostage Kevin Rideout and two former Wagner Group mercenaries, who were released by Malian separatists, to Benghazi. By managing these high-profile hostage exchanges and security transactions, Saddam is positioning himself as a central political actor capable of navigating the volatile security landscape between Libya and the Sahelian region.