War in Libya: Haftar advances in the south-west with the Wagner group. Tripoli forces on alert

The armed forces of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) installed in Tripoli today increased their alert level and announced that they are ready for a possible attack by the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by General Khalifa Haftar and his son Saddam, against the town of Ghadames, on the border between Libya and Algeria, in the south-west of the country. This was reported by the Al Arabiya website citing a statement. Instructions to the troops were given after LNA forces were spotted moving towards Ash Shwayrif, about 400 km south-west of Tripoli, and after information about a possible attack aimed at taking control of Ghadames and the border crossing to Algeria's Debdeb controlled by Prime Minister Abdelahmid Dbeibah's UN forces.

According to military sources, most of the contingent is composed of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group , whose aim is to ensure movement in these areas to send support to fighters in northern Mali, where there have been bloody clashes with Tuareg rebels in recent days. According to Libya Observer sources, the joint operations force has called all units to report 'immediately' to their respective headquarters to repel 'any possible attack'. The General Staff of the authorities in eastern Libya reported troops heading towards the south-western border for a security mission in the desert and border surveillance. An operation that 'has no one as its objective', according to Libyan Al Wasat TV.

Yesterday, the LNA general command had announced that its military units "had moved towards various cities and regions in southwestern Libya, following the instructions" of Haftar, "and under the direct supervision of the chief of staff of the land forces, Major General Saddam", writes the website of pan-Arab TV. Today, the Libyan High Council of State, a Tripoli-based institution, called the movements of the LNA "illegal" and claimed that the manoeuvres are aimed at controlling "important strategic areas" on the border with neighbouring countries, Al Arabiya again reports, warning that "this tension and sudden escalation" could lead to a return to armed conflict in Libya, thus threatening the GNA. Libya has been unstable, divided and shaken by two civil wars (the second ended in 2020) for 13 years now, starting with the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

"The embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States express their shared concerns on behalf of the international community regarding the ongoing military movements in the southwestern region of Libya." This was stated in a post on the social X of the US Embassy in Tripoli. "In light of the current stalemate in the political process, such movements could lead to escalation and violent clashes," the note continues, "given the real concerns regarding border security along Libya's southern border, we encourage security forces in the east and west to take this opportunity to deepen consultation and cooperation to implement effective measures to secure the border and protect Libya's sovereignty."

"We are deeply concerned about recent military concentrations and movements, particularly in the southwestern region. The use of force would damage stability in Libya and bring human suffering and should be avoided at all costs". This was written on its website by the European Union Delegation in Libya also on behalf of the diplomatic missions of EU Member States in Libya "calling on all parties to engage in dialogue to prevent further divisions, maintain stability and the 2020 ceasefire agreement and pursue the interest of the Libyan people as the supreme objective." "We urge all Libyan actors and armed groups to show restraint and urgently stop the escalation. We reaffirm the European Union's support for the UN efforts towards a comprehensive Libyan-led political process," the note concludes.