By the Libyan journalist and political analyst, Hussein Almeslati.
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the General Commander of the Libyan Armed Forces, has issued a directive to the elders and wise figures of Zawia city, a region of significant political and social weight in the country’s west.To play an active role in enlightening the populace about the critical nature of the current stage and prioritising the national interest above all else. This city has historically been considered a cornerstone in any national or political movement.
This invocation is not a mere casual speech; it is a strategic message that reflects the General Command’s profound understanding of the current sensitive phase. It highlights the vital importance of every city participating in the reshaping of the Libyan scene on solid national foundations. Field Marshal Haftar, known to Libyans, focuses his addresses on reason and a clear national project, deliberately avoiding slogans and emotional appeals. He maintains that the cohesion and unity of the Libyans are the only guarantees for navigating the current crisis.
The General Commander was clear when he stated that the political crisis, which all local and international tracks have failed to resolve, will only find a path to resolution through a national process decided by the people themselves, free from foreign interference. This fundamental truth has been ignored in previous initiatives, and Haftar is now reminding Libyans of it so they become active partners in shaping their destiny.
The current fragmentation within state institutions and their poor performance is a direct result of political division and subservience to external agendas. Haftar is presenting an alternative vision aimed at restoring the right of legitimacy to its true owner: the Libyan people.
Haftar’s call for a peaceful popular movement to determine a national roadmap represents a core corrective step. This roadmap embodies the “Supreme Popular Authority” that must supersede all current bodies, whether executive or legislative. This move aims to reclaim the national will that has been usurped and redraw the equation of legitimacy on a purely national basis.
The General Command of the Armed Forces, supported by thousands of officers and soldiers who have borne the responsibility of protecting the nation from chaos and terrorism, has once again proven to be the genuine guarantor of Libya’s unity and security. The military establishment affirms that it will remain on the side of the people, protecting their will and confronting all attempts to undermine or circumvent it.
Issuing the call from the city of Zawia signals the start of a new phase of national consciousness. A phase where Libyans must realise that their fate and future are forged by their own hands, under their national flag, and protected by a national military institution that has demonstrated its sincerity and steadfastness in the most difficult circumstances.
