Before Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar emerged as Operation Dignity’s leader in May 2014 the most popular military figure in Libya was probably Wanis Bukhamada. The veteran Special Forces commander had succeeded in imposing a tense peace in southern Libya in 2012, and later led the Special Forces in Benghazi that responded to the rising wave of Salafijihadi attacks in 2013. His influence declined somewhat after he quickly declared his loyalty to Haftar and Operation Dignity.

Nevertheless, his popularity has remained very high as he has continued to lead operations in Benghazi which made him a threat to Haftar’s dominance in eastern Libya. He has very visibly sacrificed on a personal level in this fight. His son was kidnapped in February 2014 for months, and his home was destroyed in fighting. In late November 2017 there were even rumours that popular dissatisfaction with Haftar had grown to the point that people were demanding Bukhamada replace him as military commander.

On 16 February there were reports that Haftar had removed Bukhamada as head of the Benghazi Joint Security Room, replacing him with Libyan National Army (LNA) Chief of Staff Abdurrazzak Nazhuri. It was also claimed, however, that he had simply been reassigned to Derna where he is expected to lead the imminent assault of the town. Although the reasoning given for Bukhamada’s demotion has been the latest wave of attacks on mosques and LNA installations in Benghazi, it is possible that it was also because of the threat that the popular Bukhamada posed to Haftar’s primacy. In recent weeks, he had be one of the LNA leaders advocating the release of pro-Government of National Accord (GNA) eastern military leader Faraj Gaim.

But the move could easily backfire. Haftar’s coalition has weakened over the last year because: he has been unable to control the Salafi groups within his alliance; and the LNA has failed to provide a satisfactory level of security within the territories that it claims to control. By side-lining Bukhamada, Haftar risks provoking outrage among his many supporters in eastern Libya which is his base. Many people should and will ask why Bukhamada was sacked and yet the alleged war criminal and LNA commander Mahmoud Werfalli continues to be free to act with impunity despite a warrant for his arrest from the International Criminal Court.

This is a segment from the weekly Libya Politics & Security report. If you would like to receive the full version then please contact the consultancy team.