Conflict over oil exporting ports, axis for political and military changes in Libya
At present, conflict over oil exporting ports, in other words conflict over quality of selling and receiving oil incomes, is the major focus of all domestic parties in Libya.
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Five years into topple of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi; the country is still boiling in chaotic situation with military conflicts as the basis of the incidents in the oil producing region. A part of these conflicts are those with Daesh group and the other is armed conflicts between two political, paramilitary and military groups in Libya.
This is while seven months have passed since formation of national unity government and it has been stabilized in the capital Tripoli for over five months but the government has not made it to dominate the oil exporting ports yet.
Fresh clashes over oil exporting ports in Libya are among incidents which have absorbed political and economic hubs posing many questions on the issue. Jafar Ghannad Bashi, political expert on Africa and Western Asia affairs in an interview with Taqrib News Agency has shed more light on the issue.
Q: What is the aim behind political and military conflicts for dominating oil exporting ports and in what direction are they heading?
A: These conflicts have an empowerment nature and unfortunately, due to relations between some Libyan political and military authorities with foreign governments, they have found external inspirations too.
Following formation of national unity, a legal approach would let oil resources and exporting ports under the command of the Libyan government so that the national unity government would have been able to meet the demands of the people and reconstruction of the destructions though the political and military changes were led another way.
At present a combination of local groups, paramilitary groups, retired army generals under the commands of Khalifa Haftar (titled “national army”) are in command of oil exporting ports. Regarding the point that the aforesaid army general is not in good terms with national unity government, conflicts over these ports seem to be deepening.
It is almost three months that units from the US army are semi publically arrayed in Libya. Some reports announce presence of units from France and UK armies in this country. It is also noteworthy that the pretext for presence of these secret conflicts is anti-Daesh campaign.
Q: Can the military changes in Libya’s oil coasts mean an end to threat of Daesh in the region?
A: Some experts count the domination of General Khalifa Haftar on oil exporting ports as a prelude to withdrawal of Daesh from across Libya, particularly when government forces have also driven back Daesh terrorists from western borders of Libya prevailing their forces across their center in the port city of Sirte.
It does not though seem that Libya’s oil coasts are secured from Daesh armed invasions. Reports have revealed secret struggles of Daesh forces for occupation of other parts in Libya. Naturally, and regarding the experiences in Syria and Iraq, these parts might be oil resources and petroleum exporting ports in Libya.
Q: What are the effects of these military and political actions and reactions on oil exporting ports of Libya on stabilization of the situation in this country and to what extent can that contribute to stabilization of a mighty government in the country?
A: At present, conflict over oil exporting ports, in other words conflict over quality of selling and receiving oil incomes, is the major focus of all domestic parties in Libya.
It is especially important when beginning many government and executive measures in the country are dependent upon having these incomes. Apparently if national unity government in Libya cannot achieve command over the oil exporting ports, it will lose its popularity among the people and amid the situation when the management and reconstruction of Libya urges oil income, it will not achieve necessary capabilities for legal supervision over the country.
