The Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Armed Forces, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, delivered a pivotal address to the sheikhs, dignitaries, and elders of the Fezzan tribes at the Khalifa Haftar Military City, highlighting the critical juncture the nation is traversing. The Commander-in-Chief asserted that Libya has reached a “pivotal point” necessitating immediate and decisive action to break the chronic political deadlock impeding the national journey. He emphasized that the historical responsibility for enacting this radical change falls directly upon the shoulders of all segments of the Libyan people.
The Field Marshal stated that “the time has come” for the Libyan people to issue their decisive ruling, announcing a clear stance regarding all the intertwined and intersecting political tracks that have dominated the scene, tracks which have repeatedly proven their failure to deliver substantive solutions to the persistent Libyan crisis. He urged Libyans to conduct a comprehensive and deep evaluation of the country’s current state and make a definitive decision to launch a “new phase of serious national action.” He insisted that this new phase must guarantee that the people become the “master and guardian of their own destiny,” free from guardianship by any internal or external entities.
The Commander-in-Chief explained that the primary cause behind this deterioration lies in the deliberate exclusion of the people from the process of self-determination and charting the roadmap for state-building. This exclusion has led to the “repetition of transitional phases” with similar negative results and disheartening outcomes, causing the political landscape to become more complex and halting the momentum of state construction. Consequently, Haftar affirmed that the next phase must be the “product of a widespread popular movement” actively led and participated in by the vital national forces, especially the sheikhs and elders who represent the social bedrock.
The Commander-in-Chief added that all institutions of the Libyan state, from the highest levels downwards, are obligated to “completely submit to what the people decide in this movement.” He issued a clear warning that the Armed Forces “will stand against anyone who opposes the will and choices of the people,” confirming that the military stands firmly behind the popular will expressed through this organised movement. He called upon national forces across all regions of Libya to “unify their word and ranks in a single line,” to build a strong “new Libya.” He further demanded that everyone immediately discard the “cloak of negativity and dependency” and actively contribute to shaping the new national scene that paves the way for lasting stability and a unified state built on solid foundations that protect national sovereignty, national dignity, and rights.
He concluded his address by stressing the pivotal historical role of the tribes, sheikhs, elders, and Libyan society in maintaining social cohesion and renouncing discord and division. He told his audience: “Just as you were a strong support for the ‘Dignity Battle against terrorism,’ by sending your sons to join its ranks and supporting the Armed Forces in their duty to defend the homeland and spread security, and just as the people rely on you to preserve national harmony, reconciliation, and amity throughout Libyan society, we look today to your role in contributing effectively to an organised and serious national movement that addresses the political crisis from its roots and draws a roadmap stemming directly from the popular will to turn the page on previous phases and open the doors to a prosperous future that realises the Libyan people’s aspirations.”
