Change of Guard in Southern Libya?

An op-ed in the Digital Journal discusses reports from the Libya Herald and the Libya Observer that officers of the Libyan National Army(LNA), meeting near the southern city of Sebha, have named General Suliman Kanah as southern commander with the aim of controlling and protecting the south. They did this without Haftar's approval. In response, Haftar's troops reportedly surrounded the rebel commanders and attempted to quash the rebellion. The article concludes:

If the reports of the rebellion being quashed are true, the LNA may very well increase its hold on Sebha. Misrata's Third Force had been the dominant group in Sebha until July. They had been there since 2014. However, when the offensive began against Sirte the larger part of the militia withdrew from the Sebha region to help out. Haftar may be waiting until his command in the south and in the west is secure before he attempts any move on Tripoli as part of his Operation Dignity to liberate Libya from Islamists, at least any who oppose him. Before that happens, the GNA and Kobler hope that they can provide Haftar with some role in the GNA which will convince him to join the GNA and urge the HoR to vote confidence in it.

Read the full article here.