Khalifa Haftar has released Nigerien opposition leader Mahamadou Saleh after his arrest in Libya, reportedly under pressure from French President Macron. Saleh holds vital intelligence on Niger’s military junta, which has faced international isolation post-coup. His release may empower Niger’s opposition while threatening the junta’s stability. Concurrently, clashes in Qatrun illustrate ongoing regional tensions and violence.
Khalifa Haftar has freed Mahamadou Saleh, an opposition leader from Niger, following his recent arrest in southern Libya. This decision reportedly came after French President Emmanuel Macron exerted diplomatic pressure, emphasizing the importance of Saleh’s release during a meeting in Paris on February 26. Saleh is known for leading an armed group in Libya’s Qatrun region and has critical intelligence on Niger’s military junta backed by Russia.
Nigerien sources, as reported by Italian news agency Nova, state that Rissa Ag Boula, a notable Tuareg leader in Paris, played a significant role in influencing Haftar’s decision. Saleh’s release could impact the regional power dynamics, enhancing Niger’s opposition forces and potentially destabilizing the military leadership in Niamey, which is currently under international scrutiny due to its recent coup.
Saleh’s detention coincided with violent clashes in Qatrun between factions loyal to Haftar’s son, Saddam Haftar, and those aligned with Hassan Al-Zadama. These hostilities emerged when Al-Zadama’s forces defied military police orders to surrender their weapons, leading to violence, the destruction of homes, and disruptions along crucial trade routes connecting Libya, Niger, and Chad.
In conclusion, Haftar’s release of Saleh, influenced by Macron’s diplomatic intervention, highlights ongoing tensions in the Sahel. Saleh’s critical intelligence on Niger’s junta could empower opposition forces while jeopardizing the military regime’s stability amid international backlash following the coup. Furthermore, the violent clashes in Qatrun underscore the precarious security situation in the region, affecting key trade and regional dynamics.
Original Source: libyaobserver.ly
