The Presidential Council has reportedly placed a controversial figure as head of the country’s central military district, Libyan newspaper Al-Marsad reports.
Major General Muhammad Mussa is hired to replace his predecessor Lieutenant-General Mohammed Al-Haddad who now serves as Chief of Staff for military forces affiliated with the Government of National Unity.
Born in Misurata, Mussa reportedly has strong ties to various militias in Libya amongst which is the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries, a coalition of Benghazi-based militias including the internationally-designated terrorist group Ansar Al-Sharia.
In 2012, he led the forces responsible for the infamous siege and subsequent attack on the western town of Bani Walid, which resulted in the killing of nearly 13o civilians, according to local town residents.
Press reports also claim that Mussa was a member of Libya Dawn, a coalition of militias that fought against the parliament-backed Libyan National Army (LNA) during start of the second civil war.
The council’s appointment of Mussa notably comes as Libya is gearing for the general election on December 24, whose unpredictable results could spark another war as Libyan monitors fear.