Senior eastern Libyan military official meets ministers, Joseph Muscat
Saddam Haftar is a senior figure within the military force led by his father
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, Foreign Affairs Minister and former prime minister Joseph Muscat separately held talks on Sunday with Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Abu al-Qasim Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA).
The government said the meeting with Camilleri focused on strengthening relations between Malta and Libya, described as “very good”, with continued collaboration across several sectors, particularly security.
Key issues on the agenda included security coordination, intelligence sharing, the fight against organised crime and efforts to curb irregular migration - areas that remain central to cooperation between Mediterranean countries.
Camilleri emphasised the importance of these issues for the central Mediterranean and southern Europe, noting that closer collaboration could benefit not only Malta and Libya but the wider region.
He was accompanied by Armed Forces of Malta commander Clinton J O’Neill, Security Service head Joe Bugeja and ambassador Malcolm Cutajar.
A statement by the Office of the Prime Minister later on Sunday said Borg’s meeting with Haftar focused on the latest developments in Libya, as well as cooperation opportunities between the two neighbouring countries.
Borg reaffirmed Malta’s support for ongoing efforts for stability and security in Libya. “A secure and prosperous Libya is indispensable for security and resilience across the entire Mediterranean region,” he said.
Meanwhile, writing on Facebook, Muscat said he and Haftar discussed the situation in Libya and the relations between the two countries.
Haftar is a senior figure within the Libyan National Army, the eastern-based military force led by his father, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Over recent years, Saddam Haftar has risen in prominence within the LNA, taking on key operational and leadership roles.
The LNA is aligned with authorities based in eastern Libya and has played a central role in the country’s prolonged conflict following the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Libya has since remained divided between rival administrations in the east and west, with competing military and political structures.
Saddam Haftar is widely seen by analysts as part of a new generation of leadership within the LNA, with increasing influence over military and strategic decisions. His engagements with foreign officials form part of broader efforts by eastern Libyan authorities to strengthen international ties, particularly on issues such as migration, security cooperation and regional stability.