Most recently, France boosted its military presence by adding 600 more troops to its 4,500-strong operation in the region. France claims that Operation Barkhane, Paris’ largest overseas operation, exists for counterterrorism efforts and in the name of “collective security." Oil resources key factorThe official Libyan government has frequently condemned French support to the warlord as undermining its democratic values. Yet, France’s projections in supporting Haftar were not only commercial concerns but rather also to gain strategic superiority in the Sahel. Toumi said Paris' Libya policy is a fiasco and the latest developments on the ground have put it in a terrible situation.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 06, 2020 13:20 UTC