Latest news with #GovernmentOfNationalUnity
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Libya's eastern-based parliament passed budget for its development fund
BENGHAZI: Libya's eastern-based parliament voted on Tuesday to approve a budget for its development and reconstruction fund, a parliament spokesperson and member said, although it is unclear if the money will be forthcoming given the country's divisions. The budget of 69 billion Libyan dinar ($12.71 billion) will be spread equally over three years, lawmaker Tarek Jroushi told Reuters, adding that the funds will be overseen by the parliament. Parliament spokesperson Abdullah Blheg earlier announced the approval of the budget in a post on X, without disclosing the budget amount. The fund, established in February last year by the eastern-based House of Representatives, has independent financial status, according to the parliament gazette. However it is unclear if the governor of the Tripoli-based Central Bank of Libya, Naji Issa, will hand over the money for the fund. The central bank, based in Tripoli, is the only internationally recognized depository for Libyan oil revenues, the country's vital economic income. The eastern development fund is headed by Belgasem Haftar, a son of military commander Khalifa Haftar. The Benghazi-based government of Osama Hamad is allied to Haftar, who controls the east and large parts of the southern region of Libya. The north African country's separate Tripoli-based Government of National Unity is headed by interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibah, who was installed through a UN-backed process in 2021.
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Libya's eastern-based parliament passed budget for its development fund
BENGHAZI, June 3 (Reuters) - Libya's eastern-based parliament voted on Tuesday to approve a budget for its development and reconstruction fund, a parliament spokesperson and member said, although it is unclear if the money will be forthcoming given the country's divisions. The budget of 69 billion Libyan dinar ($12.71 billion) will be spread equally over three years, lawmaker Tarek Jroushi told Reuters, adding that the funds will be overseen by the parliament. Parliament spokesperson Abdullah Blheg earlier announced the approval of the budget in a post on X, without disclosing the budget amount. The fund, established in February last year by the eastern-based House of Representatives, has independent financial status, according to the parliament gazette. However it is unclear if the governor of the Tripoli-based Central Bank of Libya, Naji Issa, will hand over the money for the fund. The central bank, based in Tripoli, is the only internationally recognised depository for Libyan oil revenues, the country's vital economic income. The eastern development fund is headed by Belgasem Haftar, a son of military commander Khalifa Haftar. The Benghazi-based government of Osama Hamad is allied to Haftar, who controls the east and large parts of the southern region of Libya. The north African country's separate Tripoli-based Government of National Unity is headed by interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, who was installed through a U.N.-backed process in 2021. ($1 = 5.4303 Libyan dinars
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Three Suspects Detained for Storming Libya's State Oil Firm, Attorney General Says
Three suspects have been detained for allegedly storming the Libyan state oil firm's headquarters in Tripoli, the country's attorney general said on Thursday, a day after its rival government in the east threatened to declare force majeure on oil fields and ports citing assaults on the firm. The National Oil Corporation is based in Tripoli under the control of the internationally-recognized Government of National Unity. The parallel government in Benghazi in the east is not internationally recognized, but most oilfields in the major oil producing country are under the control of eastern Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar. The NOC has previously denied its corporation's headquarters were stormed, calling it "completely false" and quoted its acting chief as calling it "nothing more than a limited personal dispute that occurred in the reception area." But the eastern-based government has threatened to also temporarily relocate the NOC's headquarters to "safe cities" such as Ras Lanuf and Brega, both of which it controls, according to Reuters. "The public prosecution reviewed the evidence of the storming of the Corporation's headquarters, inspected the scene, reviewed the video footage recorded at the time of the incident and heard the testimonies of those present," the attorney general said in a statement. The three suspects were handed over by the defense ministry, which was asked "to arrest the remaining contributors to the incident," the attorney general said. The national output of crude oil in the past 24 hours reached 1,389,055 barrels per day, the NOC said on Wednesday, reflecting normal levels. Libya's oil output has been disrupted repeatedly in the chaotic decade since 2014 when the country divided between two rival authorities in the east and west following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Three suspects detained for storming Libya's state oil firm, attorney general says
TRIPOLI: Three suspects have been detained for allegedly storming the Libyan state oil firm's headquarters in Tripoli, the country's attorney general said on Friday, a day after its rival government in the east threatened to declare force majeure on oil fields and ports citing assaults on the firm. The National Oil Corporation is based in Tripoli under the control of the internationally-recognized Government of National Unity. The parallel government in Benghazi in the east is not internationally recognized, but most oilfields in the major oil producing country are under the control of eastern Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar. The NOC has previously denied its corporation's headquarters were stormed, calling it 'completely false' and quoted its acting chief as calling it 'nothing more than a limited personal dispute that occurred in the reception area.' But the eastern-based government has threatened to also temporarily relocate the NOC's headquarters to 'safe cities' such as Ras Lanuf and Brega, both of which it controls. 'The public prosecution reviewed the evidence of the storming of the Corporation's headquarters, inspected the scene, reviewed the video footage recorded at the time of the incident and heard the testimonies of those present,' the attorney general said in a statement. The three suspects were handed over by the defense ministry, which was asked 'to arrest the remaining contributors to the incident,' the attorney general said. The national output of crude oil in the past 24 hours reached 1,389,055 barrels per day, the NOC said on Wednesday, reflecting normal levels. Libya's oil output has been disrupted repeatedly in the chaotic decade since 2014 when the country divided between two rival authorities in the east and west following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Protests Demanding Dbeibeh's Resignation Tighten Pressure on Libya's Unity Government
Widespread protests in Tripoli have escalated pressure on Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh to resign, following renewed unrest and clashes in the capital earlier this month. Demonstrators, mostly young people, blocked major roads and intersections leading to the government's headquarters on Al-Sikka Road, including areas such as Furnaj, Bifi, Zanata, Fashloum, and Yarmouk-Ganzour. The protesters lit car tires on fire, shut down key thoroughfares, and chanted slogans calling for Dbeibeh's removal, denouncing the worsening economic and living conditions. Security forces were deployed to prevent the crowds from advancing toward the prime minister's office. These nightly protests have become increasingly frequent, forming a mounting challenge to the Government of National Unity. Organizers have called for a major demonstration in Martyrs' Square this Friday, dubbing it a 'Friday of Rage.' However, several human rights organizations and civil society figures condemned the use of vandalism during the protests, warning that damaging infrastructure undermines the legitimacy of the movement. The 'Sooq al-Jumaa Movement,' a key group behind the mobilization, denied involvement in acts of sabotage, saying: 'We oppose corruption and this government, but we are not in favor of destruction.' The group reiterated its support for peaceful protest and called for large-scale demonstrations focused on accountability, not chaos. Public frustration has grown sharply over the presence and influence of armed militias in Tripoli, accused of turning the capital into a lawless zone. Citizens, including academics, lawyers, and doctors, issued a statement condemning the violence and accusing militias of forcing business closures, halting university classes, and intimidating civilians under the guise of civil disobedience. They urged Dbeibeh and his interior minister to stop allowing Tripoli to become a 'ghost city,' calling on the government to dismantle the Special Deterrence Force and rein in militia groups led by internationally wanted figures such as Osama Njeim. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry announced continued security operations in coordination with military units as part of the ceasefire implementation process. In light of the fragile security situation, the Russian Embassy said Ambassador Aydar Aganin met with Mohamed al-Haddad, Chief of Staff of Dbeibeh-aligned forces, to discuss the need to maintain calm and prevent renewed conflict in the capital.
