Violent clashes in Tripoli have forced shipping companies to divert vessels away from the capital’s port, raising concerns over the security of the country’s vital energy exports, Lloyds reported on Monday.
The unrest erupted following the assassination of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, commander of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA), leading to fierce battles between rival militias. The Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, has repeatedly claimed that a ceasefire has been agreed; however, any ceasefires have been fleeting and followed by resumptions of inter-militia clashes in the streets of the western capital.
While Libya’s oil production remains largely unaffected, the disruption in shipping routes underscores the vulnerability of the country’s energy infrastructure. Analysts warn that continued instability could have broader implications for global energy markets, especially as Russia seeks to expand its influence in the region.
In March, Libya announced it will offer up 22 onshore and offshore blocks covering a total area of 235,267 square kilometers for auction within the Sirte, Ghadames, and Murzuq Basins. Deals are expected to be signed in the last week of November this year.
What observers will be watching now is the response from the rival eastern government in Benghazi, an indication of which came on Monday afternoon, when speaker of the Benghazi-based House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, called on the Dbeibah government in Tripoli to step down “voluntarily or by force”, Libyan media reported. Saleh is aligned with eastern strongman General Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army (LNA).
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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