CAIRO — The Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter launched a military campaign in the Libyan south on Jan. 15 to secure oil fields and eliminate criminal gangs.

On March 2, the LNA announced it had taken full control of southern Libya after taking several cities and oil fields like El-Sharara and El-Feel. The moves angered the rival Presidential Council of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli. Chairman of the GNA’s Presidential Council Fayez al-Sarraj accused the LNA of seeking political gains by expanding its area of control.

In a phone interview with Al-Monitor, Misbah Douma, a member of the Tobruk-based parliament representing Sabha, one of the main cities of the Libyan south, revealed the latest details of the LNA activities in the south and his position on the accusations directed at these activities.

He also discussed the concerns about clashes between some southern tribes and the LNA, especially after the Toubou tribe accused the LNA of exploiting tribal rivalries and Sudanese opposition forces in this cleansing. Toubou is among the main tribes of the south and inhabits the border between Libya, Chad, Sudan and Nigeria. Its members are estimated at 2 million and are believed to originate from Chad.