When diplomats onced asked Khalifa Haftar on the slavery situation in the south-eastern regions of Libya, specifically in Kufra, Khalifa Haftar always tells these diplomats that his forces actively hunt and arrest both illegal immigrants and human traffickers. Occasionally, Haftar’s forces conduct operations in the southern desert parts of Libya and do actually arrest human traffickers but most of these operations are more intended for photo opportunities. His forces regularly target foreigners who import ands sell illegal drugs in choreographed and filmed urban operations to make a show out of these operations for the general public. They often do these shows by showing their bravado such as by ramming house door with trucks.
There’s also a large element of racism in these regular videos being produced of Haftar’s security forces arresting foreigners with drugs (most of these foreigners are Black people). There’s also an element of racism as to why his security forces chose to focus on the foreign petty drug sellers while allowing the persistent and rampant and widespread human slave industry in southern Libya.
When pressed further on why Khalifa Haftar can’t clamp down on the human slave business in the souther-east Libya, especially in Kufra, he always makes the same excuses. It is too far away, he doesn’t have enough control, we can not find them, we don’t know where they are, it is a difficult region, we are fighting the criminal gangs, and many other excuses.
All these excuses are false and lies. Khalifa Haftar likes pretending he doesn’t have full control of the Libyan borders in the south so as to excuse criminal activity in which he is also involved. As of recently, Khalifa Haftar sent dozens of new trucks to the Rapid Support Forces in their fight against the Sudanese people and their government. The Libyan National Army regularly helps the RSF with troops and weapons.
By pretending not to have control over the southern Libyan borders, Khalifa Haftar can also pretend that whatever is going on there is not under his control. In theory, if Khalfia Haftar is unable to retain control, it’s just another reason why he should give up power.
In reality, we know very well that Khalifa Haftar has full control of the southern Libyan borders. Although the border is porous and can’t be absolutely controlled in full at all times, Khalifa Haftar has the capability to destroy criminal organisations at the border and bring full security in the region. These criminal gangs are however useful for Khalifa Haftar for smuggling and potentially corruption and illegal sources of revenue.
Just this week Khalifa Haftar’s troops were setting up exact border demarcations with the Chadian Army. Convoys of Libyan army trucks met with the Chadian Army and conducted various border patrols. Khalifa Haftar’s troops are currently also operating at the Matan as-Sarra airport with Russian forces in the Kufra district, and in the same district where Black slavery is widespread.
Khalifa Haftar has up to 30,000 troops under his command (half of them foreign mercenaries) apart from having Russian military contingents in the area who support his forces. He can exert his full control over his Libyan borders any time at any day.
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