France is trying keep some power in Libya. Paris is looking for an option after the failure of Haftar in the war against the Government of National Accord in Tripoli. French intelligence pushes Bashagha and Saleh against al-Manfi to form an opposition.
Paris worried for al Manfi in Benghazi
The Élysée is in state of high alert after the new President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, visited Benghazi to meet Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
During Dr. Muhammad al-Manfi’s visit to Benghazi, he met Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Armed Forces, and visited the Benghazi University. He spoke to a crowd of Libyan academics and decision-makers. At the speech opening he said “the University of Qaryounis / Benghazi is the mother of all the universities in Libya ». The success of the visit seems to permanently close the door to those who hoped for the failure of the visit and the new Libyan path. Hence Paris decision to act to avoid leaving the game with no allies to move.
French intelligence pushes Bashagha and Saleh against al-Manfi
Baghaga and Saleh headed to Paris
Diplomatic sources revealed that if Macron could not, on the one hand, avoid public support for the new President of the Presidency Council, Dr. Mohamed Al-Manfi, who works under the auspices of the United Nations, on the other hand, the Élysée requested the French Foreign Intelligence Service, to investigate Aqila Saleh and Fathi Bashagha, the President The current parliament of Tobruk and the Interior Minister of Tripoli, to establish an internal branch of the future Presidential Council. The aim would be “undermining authority and popular approval”.
Elements close to the Minister of the Interior and the Speaker of Parliament leaked a confirmation of French activities. According to them, Bashagha and Saleh will soon travel to France, in a top secret mission, to meet government figures and intelligence agents to coordinate with them looking for areas of joint action. Definitely, French intelligence pushes Bashagha and Saleh against al-Manfi.
