East Libya to hold conference to gather support for rebuilding war-torn Benghazi

Libya’s eastern authorities have announced a conference in March to drum up support to rebuild the city of Benghazi.

Benghazi has been heavily damaged during three years of fighting between Operation Dignity forces and local fighters from Benghazi Shura Council.

Operation Dignity started in May 2014, when Khalifa Haftar announced his alleged war on terror, disregarding the legitimate authorities in the country and declared himself a chief of the Libyan Army.

Most districts in Benghazi were almost completely destroyed by shelling and air strikes and fighting is still ongoing despite the declaration of “liberation” of the city by Haftar’s forces in last June.

A forum titled “International Conference and Exhibition for rebuilding Benghazi city” will be held from March 19-21, the organizers said in an invitation posted online, adding that a six-day exhibition would be held the same month.

Haftar is aligned with a government and parliament in eastern Libya which was listed as the conference’s sponsor.

He has rejected a U.N.-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli and has rejected elections more than once, with his followers trying to mandate him by force to rule Libya.