The Coordination of Free Forces in Niger denies the release of their leader, Mahmoud Salah, asserting he remains imprisoned in Libya. Previous reports suggested he was released after intervention by French President Macron. The relationship between Niger’s authorities and Haftar has strengthened recently, with various diplomatic visits and renewed security agreements.
The Coordination of Free Forces in Niger has officially refuted claims regarding the release of Mahmoud Salah, leader of the National Liberation Front, who was captured in Libya. The group asserted that Salah remains detained under the supervision of Khalifa Haftar’s forces in Benghazi, as reported by the Senegalese outlet Sud Quotidien.
Earlier reports from the Italian news agency Nova suggested that Salah had been freed, based on unnamed sources within Libya. These claims followed a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Haftar, during which Macron requested that Salah not be handed over to the military council in Niamey, regarded by the international community as illegitimate following the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
The relationship between Niger’s military rulers and Haftar has notably tightened in recent months. This connection was highlighted by Nigerien Interior Minister Mohamed Boubacar Toumba’s visit to Benghazi last August, leading to the renewal of key bilateral security agreements. Furthermore, Haftar recently dispatched his son, Saddam, as a special envoy to Niger’s transitional president, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, emphasizing their collaboration efforts. In a reciprocal action, Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohamed Al-Haddad, visited Niamey to discuss strategies for countering armed groups near their shared borders.
The Coordination of Free Forces in Niger denies the release of Mahmoud Salah while emphasizing his continued detention by Haftar’s forces. The dynamics between Niger and Haftar have evolved, characterized by mutual visits and agreements to bolster security collaboration. The international community remains watchful of the implications of these developments, particularly in light of recent political upheavals in Niger.
Original Source: libyaobserver.ly
