The rebel group Coordination of Free Forces in Niger denied reports of their leader Mahmoud Salah’s release from prison in Libya. Salah remains held by Haftar’s forces, contrary to claims by some sources. Relations between Niger and Haftar have strengthened, as seen through recent diplomatic interactions and security agreements.
The Coordination of Free Forces in Niger, a rebel group, has dismissed claims regarding the release of their leader, Mahmoud Salah. Arrested on February 23 in southern Libya’s Al-Gatroon area, Salah is said to be still imprisoned under Haftar’s forces in Benghazi, according to a statement from the Senegalese site Sud Quotidien.
Contrary to these assertions, the Italian news agency Nova had reported, based on unnamed Libyan sources, that Khalifa Haftar had indeed released Salah. It was noted that during a meeting at the Élysée Palace on February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Haftar not to transfer Salah to the military council in Niamey, which is viewed as illegitimate following the coup against President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
The relations between Niger’s military authorities and Haftar have been strengthening recently, highlighted by Nigerien Interior Minister Mohamed Boubacar Toumba’s visit to Benghazi last August that led to the reactivation of security agreements. Furthermore, Haftar sent his son, Saddam, as a special envoy to Niger’s transitional president, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, in September. Additionally, Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohamed Al-Haddad, visited Niamey, where he collaborated with Nigerien authorities to bolster their joint efforts against armed groups along their borders.
In summary, the Coordination of Free Forces in Niger has firmly denied the reports of Mahmoud Salah’s release, confirming his continued imprisonment in Benghazi. Relations between Niger’s authorities and Haftar’s forces have strengthened recently, with both parties engaging in significant diplomatic and security discussions. The involvement of international figures, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasizes the complexities surrounding the political situation in both Libya and Niger.
Original Source: libyaobserver.ly
