Diplomats are not publicly discussing the possibility that Russia will push the commander of the armed forces in the east of Libya, Khalifa Haftar, to inaugurate the head of the Libyan government-designated by the House of Representatives Fathi Bashagha in Tripoli by force, as some believe he could use his control of oil export terminals as a weapon, by ceasing shipments at a sensitive time for European energy markets.
« Such control of oil fields would certainly use Russia’s interests because it would raise oil prices much more, » said Wolfram Lacher, an analyst on Libya affairs at the SWP Research Institute.
The Chairman of the Directors Board of the National Oil Corporation, Mustafa Sanalla, said in a press statement: « The current situation in the oil sector is the worst ever, and the sector has not gone through such a situation before, due to the lack of sufficient funds. We obtained huge revenues that we transferred to the government and we did not get anything. The money was not transferred to the National Oil Corporation and we are talking about a lot of debts on the Corporation. The existing debts amounted to 3 billion and 800 million and we entered into many contracts and commitments worth 6.5 billion. »
He added: « Unfortunately, this situation cast a shadow over the situation of the oil companies affiliated with the Corporation, among which are companies such as Jowfe Oil Technology that have not received their salaries since last October. The workers in these companies are Libyans and they have families to support them and they have obligations. They provide a great work for the oil sector and without them we would not be able to product. Jowfe Oil Technology also wants debts of 140 million dinars from the rest of the companies in the institution, also the month of Ramadan is coming and we are now thinking about catering operations for employees and workers in the institution amid the large debts on us. »
The Minister of Civil Service in the National Unity Government, Ali Al-Abed, said in a special statement: « The meeting of the releases committee that was held previously in 2021, that was referred to the Ministry of Finance, and currently the meeting of the releases committee will be held next week. Other numbers will be referred from employees who work in administrative units and carry out their work for the benefit of their salaries at the Ministry of Finance. This year, we are working on sorting and evaluating all files. »
In the context of his speech, he said: « I also presented the issue at the cabinet meeting and the Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Finance to pay these salaries, as the financial releases range in duration according to jobs, some of them are from 2014 and some others are from 2015. »
Al-Abed also reassured that the Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Finance to not delay the completion of salaries in any way, due to their importance to employees, and that it is difficult to publish the lists of employees targeted for releases, due to their large number, but the released sectors will be published.
He also said: « The committee is currently working on the issue of releases and is doing the inventory process. When I received the assignments, I found there was a pile of mail that had not been modified, and we are in the process of sorting and presenting it. »
As for the value of the full releases, Al-Abed said that « financial matters are within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Service, whose mission is to technically audit the processes of housing administrative and organizational cadres in terms of job description, processing work, and dual job. »
The Chairman and CEO of the Libyan Investment Authority, Ali Mahmoud, explained to the Chargé d’Affairs of the US Embassy in Libya, Leslie Ordman, in a video conference meeting Thursday evening, the efforts made to improve the transparency and management of the Libyan Investment Authority.
The US embassy in Libya stated in a tweet via its official account on Twitter that the US Chargé d’Affairs stressed the need to ensure that the Libyan Investment Authority remains independent and technical, and that the funds held by the institution remain protected until the freeze on Libyan assets is lifted in the future and can be operated in order to improve the conditions of all citizens in all parts of Libya.
The Central Bank of Libya announced today Friday, the dispatch of a cash shipment to the eastern region, worth up to 1 billion dinars, to all branches of commercial banks there, coinciding with the approaching month of Ramadhan.
The Central Bank revealed in a publication on its official page on Facebook that this step came based on coordination between the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, Seddiq Al-Kabeer and his deputy, Ali Al-Hibri, noting that this shipment will be sent tomorrow, Saturday.
The Ministry of Economy and Trade in the National Unity Government confirmed that it is working, in coordination with the Prime Minister in the government and relevant authorities, to issue a grant for the cost of living allowance to face the rise in prices during the month of Ramadhan and to establish a mechanism of support basic commodities.
The Minister of Economy Mohammed Al-Huwaij, issued a decision to set the maximum prices for a number of basic commodities, which are flour at 280 dinars per quintal, corn oil at 10 dinars, sunflower oil at 8 dinars, and unwrapped eggs at 11 dinars for a dish of 30 eggs, rice for 3.50 dinars, milk for the same price, and pasta for 3 dinars.
Al-Huwaij indicated that the period of validity of this decision is from today’s date until the end of Ramadhan, provided that the continuation of the decision is related to the economic conditions, stressing the need to close shops that are proven to be in violation of the specified pricing for a period of no less than a week and not more than one month, and if the violation is repeated, the license of practise will be withdrawn.
Malta’s Foreign Minister Everest Bartolo told today, Thursday, that Malta is seeking to intensify its security cooperation with Libya in terms of controlling illegal immigration and smuggling issues.
Bartolo added: « We do not forget that Malta is of great importance to Libya, and that there are interests that link the two neighbors, and it is important to coexist in peace, just as Malta will participate in economic projects for the structure in Libya. »
Extortion, blackmail, violence, electronic threat and other phenomena that are now prevalent in society amid the absence of a real deterrent laws to stop them in order to guarantee the rights of the victims in Libya. Special testimonies for “Tabadul” that monitor the exposure of a number of victims to these acts and the legal opinion on the matter.
The Internal Security Agency revealed in a publication on Wednesday evening that it had been agreed to grant a cost of living allowance of 300 dinars per person for a period of two months, during which the needs of the local market would be imported with a strategic reserve stock through traders, suppliers, and factory owners, and delivered to the stores of the Ministry of Economy.
According to the Internal Security Agency, this came during a meeting that included the Minister of Economy in the National Unity Government, the head of the Internal Security Agency, and a number of traders and owners of food import companies, factories, poultry breeders, mills and feed companies, in which it was also agreed that the state would support commodities at the rate of increase in prices that occurs. In the global market, the Ministry of Economy will also issue a monthly price for basic commodities, with traders pledging to reduce and sell basic commodities at cost within the two months.
The Public Sector Committee of the National Anti-Corruption Authority branch in Zawiya held a meeting with Sabratha Teaching Hospital and the National Cancer Institute in Sabratha, in the presence of those in charge of the Public Sector Committee in the Authority’s branch in Zawiya, the Executive Director of the National Cancer Institute in Sabratha, and the Director of the Administration and Financial Affairs Department at Sabratha Teaching Hospital.
This came basing on Law N° 11 of 2014 regarding the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Authority and based on the functions of the authority’s departments, offices and branches to follow up on the progress of the institutional process of the various institutions.
The meeting was held to verify the financial obligations. It also dealt with a number of observations received from the competent departments of the National Anti-Corruption Authority.
