It was the first time that Haftar’s forces and fighters loyal to the GNA clashed directly since the unity government started working in the capital in March.
Advertisement
It went on to stress that the six countries see the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) – which ran the oil terminals prior to the seizures – as Libya’s “sole executive authority”. Hifter is allied with Libya’s parliament, which is based in the country’s far east and has not approved the United Nations -backed government, in part because of differences over his future role in the country.
“Our armed forces managed to take control over the port of Zueitina and fully secure it”, said Mohamed Al-Azumi, spokesman of the forces led by Maj.
They also tasked the armed forces to unite other parties into a professional military force. However, it has been hard for the fledgling Tripoli-based government to assert authority over the country, which is still home to a number of rival factions that oppose it.
A government and parliament based in the east still resist the GNA’s authority in Tripoli and they have in the past tried to sell crude themselves. The GNA’s worldwide backers said on Monday that LNA forces should withdraw immediately, that oil infrastructure had to remain under the control of the GNA, and that they would enforce a U.N. Security Council resolution against “illicit” oil exports.
It warned overnight that the country was at a “critical juncture”, adding “the hopes of Libyans for stability in the country have been dashed”.
The head of the rival government, Abdullah al-Thani, earlier said from the eastern city of Bayda that his administration “will work on the oil ports resuming work as soon as possible so as to guarantee all Libyans a decent life”.
Kobler said oil installations must remain under the authority of the GNA’s presidential council and stressed that Resolution 2259 “contains a clear prohibition on illicit oil exports”. The branch that issued the statement Tuesday is loyal to the GNA, but the other is aligned to the administration that Haftar supports.
Parliament Speaker Agila Saleh said Hifter’s move was by “popular demand” and was authorized by Libya’s official institutions. He pledged to raise production to 600,000 barrels a day within a month from the current 290,000 barrels and to 950 barrels by the end of the year.
Conflict and political disputes have reduced Libya’s oil output and exports to a fraction of the level seen before an uprising toppled late dictator Gaddafi five years ago.
The National Oil Corporation in Tripoli confirmed LNA control of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, while the situation in Brega and Zueitina could not be independently verified. The guards reportedly offered little resistance to Haftar’s forces.
Analyst Mattia Toaldo said Haftar’s assault on the oil ports looked to take advantage of the exhaustion of pro-GNA forces after battling IS.
“I think this is what he’s aiming for – to be the one who reopens the terminals”, Gazzini said.
Advertisement
This post was syndicated from The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria.
