Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan revealed that Turkey is in contact with Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Benghazi-based Libyan National Army (LNA), and his sons, in an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia on Wednesday, saying they are part of ongoing efforts to foster unity in Libya.
Libya is still struggling to recover from years of war that followed the overthrow and death of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The country’s rule is split between rival administrations — Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east.
Haftar’s family is deeply involved in his political and military activities, with his sons Saddam and Khalid holding key positions in the Libyan National Army, and others, such as Belqasim, serving as top political advisors, while some family members reside in the United States.
Turkey’s outreach to Haftar, who commands forces in eastern Libya, signals a broader diplomatic approach following years of supporting the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity.
Fidan stressed the need for cooperation with regional players, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, to ensure lasting peace and stability in Libya.
Since 2019 Libya has seen relative calm with no significant clashes between factions, Fidan said, expressing hope that this period of peace will lead to a permanent political solution.
Turkey has backed the Tripoli government, but Foreign Minister Fidan said in February that Ankara would soon reopen its consulate in Benghazi. “Our consulate in the east is operational, and we are maintaining all kinds of relations to bring together the east and the west of Libya,” Fidan said at the time.