Libya’s UN Mission Reiterates Support to NOC in Confronting Militias

  • 8/20/2018
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The United Nations mission in Libya sided with the National Oil Corporation (NOC) of the Government of National Accord, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, in confronting armed militias in the capital Tripoli. “Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs Stephanie Williams met with the Chairman of the NOC Mustafa Sanalllah in Tripoli on Saturday and expressed the UN’s unrelenting support for the independence of the NOC and the rejection of any threats made against it and its staff,” a statement by the UN mission read. The two parties discussed the security situation across the country and the pressure exerted on the NOC by some armed groups through illegal interference in its operations and administration, Sanallah said in a statement. Williams expressed the full support of the UN to the NOC as the sole legitimate authority responsible for the oil and gas sector in Libya. In this context, Sanallah stressed that the NOC prioritizes fighting fuel smuggling, explaining to Williams the company’s steps and plans to counter this illegal activity and guarantee the delivery of fuel to all Libyan areas. He also said that the international community and neighboring countries should play a bigger role in supporting Libya, calling on all local institutions to adhere to transparency and sound governance, especially in regards to the distribution of oil revenues. The meeting took place amid information that Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) was preparing to counter a new potential terrorist attack on the strategic Oil Crescent region. The LNA’s central region media office said it had monitored, some 80 kms north of al-Jafra, the movements of terrorist groups that are affiliated to former leader of the Petroleum Facilities Guard Ibrahim al-Jadhran and the remnants of the pro-Qaeda Benghazi defense brigades. Located in central Libya, the Jafra municipality lies 650 km southeast of Tripoli. It includes five small towns and the Jafra Air Base, the third largest in the country. In a statement, the LNA said four groups of militias and terrorist elements were identified and moving in batches to different areas on the outskirts of Sirte and several other cities. Commander of the guard of the central and eastern oil facilities Naji al-Maghrabi stressed that his forces were ready to deal with any terrorist attack and confront extremist groups that have been trying to destabilize the Oil Crescent region.

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