FRI 29 - 3 - 2024
 
Date: Sep 14, 2016
Source: The Daily Star
Libya unity rivals seize final port in 'oil crescent': military
Agence France Presse
TRIPOLI, Libya: Forces opposed to Libya's unity government on Tuesday seized a fourth oil port, completing their takeover of vital installations in the North African country's "oil crescent," a military source said.

Colonel Muftah al-Muqarief said his forces, who are loyal to controversial General Khalifa Haftar, seized the port of Brega "without any fighting," after having already taken control of Ras Lanouf, Es-Sidra and Zuwaytina since Sunday.

"The entire oil crescent region is now under our control," Muqarief told AFP, referring to the area along Libya's northern coast.

The officer said Haftar's forces took control of Brega – between Ras Lanouf and Zuwaytina – largely thanks to "mediation involving residents and town elders."

The loss of Brega would deal a fresh blow to the Government of National Accord which has been struggling to assert its authority.

The Tripoli-based GNA is opposed by an internationally recognized parliament based in Libya's remote east near the border with Egypt.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, with rival authorities and militia vying for control.

Haftar, 73, who sees himself as Libya's savior after battling extremists out of most of second city Benghazi in the east, backs the parliament which has refused to grant the GNA a vote of confidence.

The Brega takeover comes hours after the United States and its major European allies – which back the GNA – condemned Haftar's offensive, echoing remarks by U.N. special envoy Martin Kobler.

"I call for the respect of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2259 which recognizes the Government of National Accord ... as the sole executive authority in Libya," Kobler said Monday.

Oil is Libya's main natural resource with reserves estimated at 48 billion barrels, the largest in Africa, but production has plummeted since 2011 as the country plunged into chaos.

On Sunday, Haftar's forces took Es-Sidra and Ras Lanouf ports before attacking Zuwaytina to the east.

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.

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 unity government, for its part, has called on loyalist forces to "protect and defend" the ports, while the head of the rival government in the eastern city of Bayda said it would work on reopening the ports as soon as possible.

"We will work on the oil ports resuming work as soon as possible so as to guarantee all Libyans a decent life," Abdullah al-Thani said.

Haftar's forces have said they would hand over management of the ports to the National Oil Corporation to resume oil exports.

The NOC is split into two rival branches, however, one allied to the GNA and the other to the administration that Haftar supports.



 
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