Haftar’s Return to Libya after Rumours of his Death: What does it Tell about Media?

Both his enemies and allies strongly agree that General Khalifa Haftar’s military and political expertise makes him a difficult number in the Libyan equation.

 For about three weeks, General Khalifa Haftar has been the focus of international and regional media and social media.

 Media rumours have been circulating about the death of the most important general in Libya. Some went to fabricate stories about high-level meetings held in Abu Dhabi and Cairo to discuss Haftar’s succession.

 For two weeks, media fiction has been around. The credibility of Western media has been shaken as the reports about Haftar’s death were based on almost one Western media source.

Media reports stated that General Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, suffered a stroke followed by a bleeding. His serious condition necessitated his speedy transfer to Jordan and from there to France. In a military hospital in France, he received an intensive treatment. Other reports went far to announce his death and that his allies are looking for a successor.

 The news was promoted by large news agencies like Sputnik. Others denied Libyan UN envoy’s statement that he spoke with Haftar and that he is in good health. Discreetness about the general’s health has led many to follow rumours.

 The return of General Khalifa Haftar came at a perfect time to end all doubts. He held a press conference to announce that he is in good health and denounce all the reports about his death.

The absence of any official statement about his health prompted the rumours. But his return in good health at the conference refuted the news of his death.

 Despite his return and recovery, some still cannot believe that he is still alive.

 The last three weeks have taught many lessons. Media is chasing the scoop instead of the truth. Arab media should be cautious while dealing with Western media. Recent crises between regimes and their people in the Arab world were due to some Western reports that were published for some purposes.

Information has become an important factor in the conflict among States and powers on the regional and international scales. Hiding the truth about the general’s health was a manoeuvre that revealed several truths. Media has fallen to rumours and misinformation that could be used in other stages of the conflict.