Overview

This week saw the release of the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, who had been held for over a week having been abducted in connection with the Government’s strong stance on disarming the militias and closing down their illegal prisons. He was released unharmed.

Concerns have continued to grow in the Oil and Gas sector particularly over security and the perceived lack of it, especially in the south of the country. The French oil services contractor, Ponticelli announced that it was withdrawing from Libya for security reasons. BP have been engaged with Nuri Berruien, the head of the NOC and the Oil Minister, Abdelbari Arusi, over security concerns. This led Berruien to downplay the security situation as being overblown and he was adamant that foreign private security companies would not be allowed to operate as in Iraq. This has been the tenor concerning foreign private security since the Revolution but is not necessarily finding confidence with foreign oil companies seeking to either re-establish themselves or commence operations for the first time in Libya.

Finally, it was reported that the leader of Ansar Al-Sharia, Sufyan bin Qumu, was shot on 14th April in Derna, a Islamist stronghold. The reports are of a failed assassination attempt but it is noteworthy given that he and the group remain strongly implicated in the over-running of the US Consulate in Benghazi and the death of US Ambassador Stevens.

Tripolitania (Western Libya)

Tripoli and its environs have been relatively quiet this week given the attempts by the Government to cleanse areas of the city from illegal buildings, slums and militia strongholds. The major news was the release of Mohamed Ali Ghatous unharmed following his abduction over a week ago. Yesterday hospital staff at Tripoli’s Central Hospital walked out in protest at the lack of security in the hospital. There have been a number of shootings in hospitals and this was in direct response to the withdrawal of SSC guards, who had been placed there to ensure its security.

Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya)

A number of those being held in Benghazi charged with proselytising have been released including Egyptian Coptic Christians who have been held for over a month and those that were first arrested back in January. A number of shootings have taken place this week from Ali Al-Sharie, who was seen as a top former Gaddafi official in Derna having been its Secretary of the General People’s Congress. He was gunned down by unknown assailants leaving evening prayers on 10th April. The attack on the leader of Ansar Al-Sharia took place also in Derna yesterday. The local intelligence office in Shahat was also attacked this week with rocket propelled grenades, no casualties were reported. Further south in Kufra tribal clashes have broken out again between the Zway and Tebu. Three days of clashes have resulted in a number of killed and wounded. This is the latest episode of clashes this year between the Zway and Tebu.

Fezzan (South-western Libya)

Another attack has taken place in Sabha, this time it was on a police vehicle compound in the southern town. The attack took place on 11th April and resulted in one person being killed. The Libyan authorities have responded quickly to the attack and have arrested 20 people. This is the third attack in this area in as many weeks against government installations: a prison, an airbase and now a vehicle compound. This lawlessness is of great concern to the Oil and Gas community who are seeking greater assurances from the Libyan Government for their security in these particularly isolated southern locations.