Haftar heads the eastern-based LNA and waged war on western factions after the country split in 2014, including a 14-month offensive to take Tripoli that was repelled last year after devastating areas of the capital.
Libyan media said the step opens the way for Haftar to run as a presidential candidate under a controversial new law.
National elections were pushed as a way to end Libya’s decade-long crisis, but have been enmeshed in bitter arguments over legitimacy that may unravel a months-long peace process.
He is probably the world’s best bet for resolving the chaos from which Libya has been plagued since the Obama-Biden Administration decided to transform the country into jihadi terrorist Disneyland.