Libya declares force majeure at 11 oilfields

Force majeure has been declared at 11 Libyan oilfields following consecutive attacks by militants, a move which protects the country from liability in case it cannot fulfill its contracts.

The announcement was made by Libya’s National Oil Company on Wednesday while it also threatened to "close all fields and ports" unless improvements were made in the North African country’s security situation.

According to a Libyan oil industry spokesperson, the al-Mabrouk and al-Bahi oilfields were seized by militants on Tuesday.

Over the last few weeks, both oilfields, located some 500 kilometers (310 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, have been forced to shut down over violence and complications at export terminals.

During a similar attack on the oilfields in February, 11 people were killed and staff were forced to evacuate.

Urgent appeal to UN

Meanwhile, Libya has made an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council asking it to either completely remove an arms embargo or to permit exemptions so that its military can battle rising militant threats such as those of the ISIL Takfiri terrorists and other groups.

Libya's UN Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi (pictured below) told the council the people of his nation believe that the international community's silence has permitted the spread of the threat caused by "terrorist" groups.

He went on to say that his country would suspend relations with some states for "creating diplomatic relations" with militants fighting the government.

Dabbashi declined to say what kinds of arms his country had requested but told reporters, "If you don't have enough fighter jets and surveillance airplanes, etc., you cannot deal with this problem."

The ambassador told the council that as of now the Libyan army requires its chief of staff to sign off for every weapons request and the requests must be certified by Libya’s UN mission.

The ambassador’s request came a day before the resumption of talks in Morocco between the country’s rival factions.

He also told the council that the talks will carry on next week during meetings in Brussels and Algeria.

The Tripoli-based General National Congress, backed by the Fajr Libya militias controlling the capital, are waging a war against the official Libyan army, supported by the Tobruk-based parliament, in the far east of the country.

The new Tripoli rulers have set up a rival parliament and government not recognized by the international community.

Libya plunged into chaos following the ouster of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi which gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.

SRK/AS/MHB

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