On Thursday, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar
...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly...
, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), vowed to drive development and restore stability across Libya, prioritizing the neglected southern regions.
Speaking at the First Conference on the Reconstruction of the South in the city of Sebha, Haftar emphasized that southern Libya would be at the forefront of his efforts in the coming period.
''We will achieve development and stability in Libya, and the south will be our priority,'' Haftar declared in his address, underscoring the strong popular support for his forces, particularly in the south. His comments reflect a broader commitment to addressing the long-standing issues of neglect and underdevelopment in this strategically important region.
"I'm seeing a huuuge entertainment/hospitality economy!"
The conference attracted key political and military figures, including Aguila Saleh, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Abdel-Razek al-Nathouri, Osama Hammad, the Parliament-designated Prime Minister, and Director of the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, Belgasim Haftar.
Their attendance underscored the event's importance, signaling a unified effort to address southern Libya's development needs.
Libya's southern region, rich in resources but historically overlooked, has faced decades of neglect, lacking essential services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. This has made it a hotspot for smuggling, human trafficking, and militia activity. Haftar's pledge to prioritize the south reflects his intention to stabilize the region and integrate it into national reconstruction efforts.
In his remarks, Ageela Saleh called for dialogue and cooperation among all Libyan factions to solve the country's ongoing political crisis. He emphasized that developing and reconstructing various regions of Libya, including the south, would be a key focus in the coming years.
The south holds significant strategic importance for Libya, not only due to its natural resources, including oil and gas, but also because of its geographic location bordering countries like Chad, Niger, and Sudan
 ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans...
. Control over this region is crucial for managing migration routes and trade, yet it remains one of the most underdeveloped parts of the country.
Haftar's forces maintain a strong military presence in the area, and his speech signals a new push to bring economic and social improvements to a long-neglected part of Libya. 
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