Saddam Haftar is eyeing the throne in Libya

Eastern Libya’s House of Representatives ratified on October 20 the maritime memorandum between Turkey and the Tripoli authorities, after denouncing it for nearly seven years. Emadeddin Badi argues the reversal is part of Saddam Haftar’s strategy to pursue Libya’s presidency and secure Ankara’s backing for a possible US-backed power-sharing deal between Tripoli and Benghazi. Two weeks before the vote, the House removed its speaker, Aguila Saleh, an ally of Cairo and a major opponent of ratification. The European Union, Greece, Israel and Egypt condemned the vote.