Libyan Prime Minister Condemns Oil Shutdowns as a Crime
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh condemned the recent shutdown of the country’s oil fields and ports by eastern authorities, calling it a “crime punishable by law” during a meeting on Wednesday. He made these remarks while speaking with Stephanie Koury, the deputy special representative of the UN secretary-general for political affairs and officer-in-charge of the UN Support Mission in Libya, according to a statement released by the Libyan government.
Dbeibeh emphasized the critical need for cooperation with the United Nations to achieve national consensus and address ongoing crises. He urged the international community to provide support in holding accountable those responsible for the oil shutdowns, which he described as “shameful acts.”
The eastern-based government initiated the closures on Monday in response to a decision by the western-based government in Tripoli to appoint economist and former Deputy Central Bank Governor Mohamed al-Shukri as the new Central Bank governor, replacing Sadiq Al-Kabir, a move that was met with resistance by the eastern authorities.
Since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, Libya has been deeply divided between two rival administrations: the eastern government, backed by the House of Representatives, and the western government in Tripoli, supported by the Presidency Council. This ongoing fragmentation continues to fuel political and economic instability in the country.
