The head of Libya's unrecognized eastern government, Osama Hammad, announced Aug. 27 the suspension of oil exports in response to attacks on employees of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) amidst a struggle for control between rival factions.

The country has been divided by power struggles and currently has two rival governments—a UN-recognized one based in Tripoli and another in the country's east backed by warlord Gen. Khalifa Haftar. The announced oilfield shutdown comes as part of an ongoing dispute between the eastern government and the UN-recognized one regarding the leadership of the CBL.

The Central Bank of Libya this month suspended its operations after several employees were abducted by unidentified parties. Among those kidnapped were Musab Msallem, the director of the Information Technology Department, and Rasim al-Najjar, director of the governor's office. The abductions have raised concerns about the safety of the banking sector, with the CBL warning that such extrajudicial actions pose a serious threat to Libya's economic stability.

Hammad condemned the attempts to replace Seddik al-Kaber, the governor of the CBL, and attributed the kidnapping to the Presidential Council, which functions as Libya's executive under the UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement of 2015. Al-Kaber has been accused of mismanaging Libya's oil resources and state funds.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya called for halting any escalations and lifting the suspension of oil exports.

From Jurist, Aug. 27. Used with permission. 

See our last posts on the poitical crisis in Libya, and the struggle for the oil.