Khalifa Haftar
Khalifa Haftar

The Libyan National Army rebel group, which is headed by 75-year-old US citizen Khalifa Haftar, has hired Linden Government Solutions to a $2.1M contract for strategic consulting services and PR services.

The Houston firm's contract is with the Benghazi-based Decision Support Center, which says its goal is to achieve stability and democracy in the war-torn nation.

Linden's agreement calls for a $300K payment to cover "start-up costs and work upon execution of the contract" and $425K paid quarterly beginning June 1. The representation kicked off May 16 and runs through June 16, 2020.

Linden president Stephen Payne has close ties with the Republican party. He served in the George W. Bush White House as a presidential advance representative and also traveled with former VP Dick Cheney.

The US recognizes Libya's Government of National Accord, which is based in the capital city of Tripoli, as the legitimate ruler of the country.

President Trump, though, made a phone call to Haftar in April to discuss “ongoing counterterrorism efforts and the need to achieve peace and stability in Libya,” according to a White House statement.

Mercury Public Affairs has a one-year $1.8M contract with the Government of National Accord. The Omnicom unit received $500K of that amount when its work began on April 22.

WPP's Prime Policy Group reps the Government of National Accord on a pro-bono basis.