Libya’s Haftar orders re-opening of energy facilities
Rebel General Khalifa Haftar, who leads the Libyan
National Army (LNA), has announced the re-opening of Libya’s oil facilities.
“Haftar has re-opened the ports and facilities to
end the problems experienced by Libyans in many areas of life and to protect
oil production and export infrastructure,” the newspaper cited Naci el-Mağribi,
leader of a militia allied to the LNA, as saying.
Haftar has blocked oil production and exports since
January 18 as leverage in his fight against the Tripoli-based, United
Nations-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), which is backed by
Turkey.
Turkish military support has been critical to the
GNA in pushing back a 14-month campaign to capture Tripoli by the LNA, which is
backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, among others.
The LNA still controls eastern Libya and much of the
south, including most of the country’s main oil fields.
But the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Central
Bank, the only bodies allowed to sell Libyan oil under international
agreements, are located in Tripoli under the GNA’s control.
