Farhat Bengdara was installed into the National Oil Corporation’s (NOC) Tripoli headquarters yesterday as its new chairman.
According to the NOC’s official Facebook page, he was forcibly installed using armed forces loyal to incumbent caretaker prime minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba. However, it must be noted that the official NOC Facebook page is still under the control of NOC personnel loyal to the outgoing Mustafa Sanalla.
Video footage of scuffles at the NOC’s entrance were posted by the NOC Facebook page. It reported that ‘‘an armed group, accompanied by a number of masked civilians, forcibly entered the main building of the National Oil Corporation and assaulted some employees and physically and verbally abused them.
We also note that the intrusion led to damage to some facilities inside the main building and the cracking of a number of entrances and exits, including the main entrance to the main meeting room in the building.
Whereas this intrusion was carried out in an illegal manner and to implement an invalid decision issued by a government that has expired and exists as a de facto government by force of arms; In view of the criminal offense this disgraceful act constitutes, the National Oil Corporation has submitted an official communication to the Attorney General, to take the necessary measures regarding these illegal acts and to deter their perpetrators.’’
Meanwhile, the Aldabaiba government is pushing on to make the installation of Bengdara as a fait accompli. At a later time yesterday, Bengdara was photographed meeting Aldabaiba’s Finance Minister, Khaled Mabruk. Their discussions included a pay rise and bonuses to state employees in the oil sector.
Defiant Sanalla refuses to handover NOC chairmanship (libyaherald.com)
NOC lifts force majeure at Brega and Zueitina oil ports (libyaherald.com)
Aldabaiba agrees to replace Sanalla as head of NOC: News and analysis (libyaherald.com)
Aldabaiba’s Aoun-Sanalla crisis summit: Kiss and make up or slap on the wrist? (libyaherald.com)
