After weeks of mounting tensions between Saddam Haftar, who has been tasked with securing the South, and Hassan al-Zadma, the powerful commander of the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) 128 Brigade which controls much of the Fezzan region, events came to a head last week.
On 12 January, LNA commander Khalifa Haftar hosted a delegation of notables from the Awlad Sulieman tribe – an Arab Fezzani tribe to which the Zadma family belongs – who, according to the LNA, reportedly praised Haftar, the LNA and their efforts to acheive stability and security in the Fezzan region.
The same day, it appears the LNA General Command issued a decision disbanding the 128 Brigade and reforming it as the 15 Mechanical Infantry Brigade based in Jufra. However, there were two different versions of this decision circulating on social media, with one appointing Hassan al-Zadma to command this restructured 15th Brigade and another removing him completely and replacing him with Bin Essa al-Majri. Other reports indicate that the 128 Brigade has been divided into two or three separate entities, spread across the Fezzan. Reports indicate that Hassan al-Zadma and his brother Salem al-Zadma, who is the Deputy PM in the Government of National Stability (GNS) are either in hiding or have fled to Abu Dhabi due to pressure from Saddam Haftar.