Khalifa Haftar released Nigerien opposition leader Mahamadou Saleh after pressure from French President Emmanuel Macron. Saleh’s release may influence regional power dynamics, strengthening Niger’s opposition and challenging the military junta. His arrest was coupled with violent clashes in Qatrun, exacerbating local tensions.
Khalifa Haftar has released Mahamadou Saleh, a Nigerien opposition leader, following his arrest in southern Libya. The release occurred shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron exerted diplomatic pressure. Reports from the Italian news agency Nova indicate that Rissa Ag Boula, a prominent Tuareg leader in Paris, played a pivotal role in influencing this decision. Saleh led an armed group in Libya’s Qatrun region and holds significant information regarding opposition movements against Niger’s military junta, which has received backing from Russia.
Macron allegedly met with Haftar on February 26 in Paris, urging him not to extradite Saleh to Niger’s military governing council in Niamey. This junta has encountered considerable international isolation since executing a coup in July 2023 that resulted in the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum. Nova posits that Saleh’s release could potentially alter the regional balance of power, bolstering opposition forces in Niger while heightening instability for the military leadership in Niamey, which faces increasing scrutiny from the international community.
Saleh’s arrest coincided with clashes in Qatrun involving forces associated with Haftar’s son, Saddam Haftar, and loyalists to Hassan Al-Zadama. The conflict arose when Al-Zadama’s forces declined to disarm, precipitating violent confrontations, destruction of property, and disruptions in vital trade routes that connect Libya, Niger, and Chad.
The release of Mahamadou Saleh marks a significant diplomatic outcome influenced by international relations, particularly with France. It indicates a possible shift in the power dynamics within Niger and further challenges for its military junta. The situation remains fluid as both local and regional instabilities continue to evolve, following key confrontations in Qatrun.
Original Source: libyaobserver.ly
