A US lobbying firm closely connected to the Trump administration has been handed a $2m contract to represent Khalifa Haftar, a Libyan warlord and de facto leader of large swaths of the country who faces multiple allegations of human rights abuses.

Lobbying disclosure agreements reported by the Washington Post revealed that Ballard Partners, which is staffed by former Trump administration officials, has agreed to advance the interests of Haftar, general commander of his self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), and his son Sadddam, chief of staff of the ground forces.

Haftar and his forces face allegations of human rights abuses, which are reportedly perpetrated in the detention centres they run.