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Egypt supports Haftar and his efforts to secure Libya’s oil wealth

September 16, 2016 at 4:29 pm

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said today that Egypt supports the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its leader Khalifa Haftar and moves made by the commander to maintain stability in Libya and secure the country’s oil wealth.

In comments to the Middle East News Agency, Shoukry said: “Egypt fully supports the Libyan army’s moves to to maintain security and stability of Libya and to secure its oil wealth.”

On Wednesday the LNA seized control of four major oil terminals – Ras Lanuf, Es Sider, Zueitna and Brega – from its rival, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in the country’s latest struggle over energy assets. The attack prevented Libya’s first major oil shipment in years and has been recognised as an attempt by Haftar to assert his power over the GNA and prove that the LNA is still a major player in Libya.

A statement released on 12 September by the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya declared: “Attacks on the oil terminals further threaten the stability and lead to a greater division of the country. They further restrict the oil exports and add to people’s suffering,” adding that the GNA should be respected as the sole executive authority in the country.

The Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a joint statement condemning the attack on the four oil terminals in Libya – Egypt has asked the US and the five European governments to withdraw their statement on the grounds that it doesn’t take into account the internal situation in Egypt.