Defense Ministry in Tripoli refused to obey the Libyan Government

The readiness to accept any decision of the Libyan government, except for the one in which Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar participates, was expressed by the plenipotentiary Minister of Defense in the Government of National Accord (GNA) Salah ad-Din al-Nimrush on September 20, learned BulgarianMilitary.com citing the press service of the Ministry of Defense in Tripoli statement.

Nimrush added that he is open to any political decision, provided that the commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, is not a member. He also noted that he rejects any agreements in which the members of the military headquarters of Operation Volcano of Fury of the GNA forces did not participate.

The Defense Commissioner’s statements came about 24 hours after the LNA General Command entered into an agreement with the deputy head of the GNA in the presidential council, Ahmed Maytiga. The agreement is aimed at resuming oil production in Libya and was concluded jointly with Field Marshal Haftar.

As a result of the agreement, Libya’s National Petroleum Corporation announced on Saturday evening that force majeure status had been removed from “safe” fields and ports, and confirmed, but so far, remains in areas and ports where armed men are believed to impede production.

The corporation said in a statement that it has instructed the operating companies and relevant departments of the corporation to carry out their duties and resume production and export from “safe” fields and ports.

Libyan civil war

Having ruled the country since 1969, Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in the 2011 civil war. As a result, the country found itself in a situation of dual power: in the east, a parliament is sitting in Tobruk, supported by the Libyan national army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and in the west, in Tripoli, a government of national accord.

In Libya, armed clashes are currently taking place between supporters of different leaders. The country is led by the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Fayez Saraj, the “eastern government” led by Abdullah Abdurrahaman at-Thani.

The eastern government is supported by the commander of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa Haftar.

Recall that January 13 in Moscow, negotiations were held between the heads of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalif Haftar and the Government of National Accord (GNA) Faiz Sarraj. Also present were members of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Turkey.

On the meeting the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has notified Russia about the conditions for continuing negotiations on the signing of a peace agreement in Libya.

According to the requirements of Haftar, the militias operating in Libya are required to surrender weapons in the period from 45 to 90 days. This process should be controlled by a special commission created by the LNA together with the UN.

Haftar also refused to recognize Turkey as an intermediary in resolving the situation in Libya, since the Turkish side is not neutral and supports the Government of National Accord (GNA).

At the same time, the GNA is actively supporting Turkey, and Egypt and Saudi Arabia are on the side of the LNA. Its unofficial allies are France and the UAE.