Libya | Saddam Haftar, Heir to Cyrenaica

Good news — Flash Radio shares this positive update with you. Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who has led eastern Libya for years, will soon turn 83. His son, Saddam, 35, has recently been named deputy commander of the Libyan National Army, marking a decisive step toward a potential succession. This latter is increasingly involved in diplomatic and political roles, while also strengthening his military and economic ties. The facts and recent developments Saddam Haftar is deploying a multifaceted strategy to assert himself: strategic appointments, meetings with international figures, and mobilization of tribes. However, this rise raises questions about his ability to inherit his father's network of alliances, and about the acceptance of his brothers Khaled and Belgassem, who control respectively the military command and the Libyan development fund. Family rivalry and tribal loyalties remain major obstacles. With Haftar's advancing age, the question of power succession has become urgent. The future of eastern Libya now depends on Saddam's ability to balance family ambitions and political stability in an already fragile context.