Military Warlord Khalifa Haftar Declares Self As Libyan Ruler

Libyan military Warlord, Major General  Khalifa Haftar has declared himself as the paramount ruler of Libyan Nation with a “popular mandate” from the people.

Naija News leanrt that In a televised speech on Monday night, the leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced that the General Command of the Armed Forces had “accepted the will of the people” to take over management of the country.

The move apparently marginalizes an eastern-based civilian parliament that had until now been backing the military commander.

In his speech, Haftar added that a 2015 deal that produced the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), a unity administration based in Tripoli that was formed after years of civil conflict, was null and void.

Naija news, however, recalls  that In a speech last week, Haftar asked Libyans to hold demonstrations and give him the mandate to rule. Despite a curfew imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, crowds thronged the streets of Benghazi and chanted slogans against the rival Tripoli administration.