The Nigerien rebel group denies the release of leader Mahmoud Salah from Libyan custody. Salah is still under the care of Khalifa Haftar’s forces, contrary to reports claiming his release. Relations between Niger’s authorities and Haftar have strengthened recently, emphasizing collaborative security efforts against border threats.
The Coordination of Free Forces in Niger, a rebel organization, has officially denied claims concerning the release of Mahmoud Salah, the leader of the National Liberation Front. Salah was detained in the Al-Gatroon region of Libya on February 23 and is reportedly still held under the custody of Khalifa Haftar’s forces in Benghazi, as indicated by a statement from the group featured in the Senegalese publication Sud Quotidien.
Contrarily, the Italian news agency Nova had previously asserted, based on anonymous Libyan sources, that Salah had been released by Haftar. Sources from Nova also reported that during a meeting on February 26 at the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Haftar not to transfer Salah to the military council in Niamey, which has been deemed illegitimate by the international community following the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
Recently, there has been a notable strengthening of relationships between Niger’s military regime and Haftar. This trend was highlighted during the visit of Nigerien Interior Minister Mohamed Boubacar Toumba to Benghazi last August, culminating in the revitalization of bilateral security agreements. Furthermore, Haftar had on prior occasions dispatched his son, Saddam, to meet with Niger’s transitional president, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, in September. In return, Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohamed Al-Haddad, visited Niamey to fortify collaborative efforts against armed groups along their mutual borders.
In summary, the rebel group Coordination of Free Forces in Niger firmly refutes assertions regarding the release of Mahmoud Salah, who remains detained in Benghazi. The evolving dynamics between Niger’s military authorities and Khalifa Haftar suggest a trend towards closer diplomatic and security ties, underscored by recent high-level visits and agreements aimed at combating border security issues.
Original Source: libyaobserver.ly
