Libyan media assess developments in military situation in the west of country

19 Avril 2020

Tripoli, Libya, April 19 (Infosplusgabon)  -  Libyan newspapers appearing this week have given wide coverage to military developments on the ground in the west coast region of Libya.

This followed the regaining of control by the national accord government forces of the cities of Sabratha and Sorman and several other localities in the west from the forces of Haftar.

The Libyan press has also taken an interest in political initiatives to seek a settlement, and questions Libyans on their opinion over the successive failures to reach a solution to end the crisis in the country.

Losses by the oil sector since the closure of production and export sites on January 18 was one of the topics covered by Libyan newspapers.

"The failure of international calls to observe a humanitarian truce ending the war in Libya has resulted in a qualitative escalation on the ground this week between the forces of the General Command (Haftar) and the forces of the government of national accord through which these have managed to control the strategic cities of Sabratha and Sorman (west of the capital), after about a year of control by the general command after the outbreak of the capital war in April last year,” wrote the Al-Wassat newspaper which notes that it is a major change observed by this war

This development sparked a timid international and European response, contenting itself with condemning the escalation and calling for room for efforts to fight Coronavirus in the country, particularly with the suffering of residents of the thirsty capital caused by the water cut, the darkness, the economic suffering caused by the closure of the oil installations, in what analysts considered to be the first practical translation of the cessation of "international mediation efforts" in light of the global concern over the repercussions of the pandemic, the newspaper added.

In an article entitled "Qualitative change in the route of war on the west coast", the Libyan weekly newspaper, Al-Wassat said that the humanitarian situation in Libya remained hostage to increasing deterioration, in light of international reports revealing the extent of human suffering of citizens and illegal migrants in the country, whether due to the war in the capital Tripoli or the coronavirus epidemic.

It cited a UN report confirming that food-secure Libyan families have become vulnerable and are asking for help, due to the multidimensional crisis facing the economy and caused by the escalation of the conflict, the oil embargo and the lack of cash, as well as threats from Covid-19.

The newspaper concluded that with "the complete closure of the circle of crisis around the neck of the citizen who has become the only victim of war and closures (of oil, water and electricity), the question of the solution remains suspended between war, the pandemic and international concerns to face it.

The Afrigatenews newspaper echoed data from the Libyan National Petroleum Company (NOC) showing that the cumulative production losses amounted to 90,972,450 barrels since the closure of the ports and the oil fields, on January 18.

The newspaper, citing the NOC’s last Monday's production of 80,051 barrels per day, bringing the daily production loss to 1,394,910 barrels.

While the Libyan Oil Company has estimated that losses from the closure of oil sites, during the same period, have exceeded $4.1 billion since January 17, indicating that the closure of many of its facilities caused the suspension of the Zaouia refinery (West), which pushed it to increase its fuel imports so that it could meet the basic needs of the population, stressing that most of the oil and gas tanks become "unusable" because of the considerable damage they suffered.

Regarding fuel availability in different cities, the newspaper said NOC pointed out that gasoline is available in Benghazi for six days, diesel for three days and cooking gas for 19 days.

As for the city of Tobrouk (East), there is no petrol or cooking gas, while diesel is available for 12 days, added the newspaper, citing the company which adds that Sebha (South) has no fuel supply, attributing this to poor security conditions while in the capital, Tripoli suffers from the absence of petrol or diesel, while cooking gas is available for three days.

The newspaper recalled that since January 18, the oil sites in the East, Center and South have been closed.

In a micro-pavement, the newspaper Al-Wassat questioned Libyans on their opinions on peace initiatives, specifying that since the overthrow of the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in February 2011, international and regional initiatives calling for Libyan reunification ''have not stopped and the establishment of a dialogue bringing together Libyans under the "umbrella of one homeland".

"News releases in different languages ​​that Libyans have heard about their business, countless lectures they have attended on screens echoed the name of their country, but they are still aware of one fact: the crisis is still current, and everyone sings their initiative, their solutions, and nothing new," said Al-Wassat.

The newspaper interviewed former Libyan delegate to the United Nations, Ibrahim Al-Dabbachi, who said: "I do not think that multiple initiatives have been presented to resolve the Libyan crisis. We have seen multiple efforts from different countries to help the Libyan parties agree to implement United Nations solutions, although some countries have an unclear picture of who the Libyan actors are, and they hesitate between the roles of the tribes and supporters of the old regime, cities and regions, and they have all their hands tied to the holders of arms and the holders of positions of (responsibility) ''.

On her part, Nadia Omran, member of the Constituent Authority for the Drafting of the Constitution, told the newspaper that the international community "was and always remains clearly divided on the Libyan dilemma, and held numerous regional and international meetings and consultations , and numerous declarations and decisions have been published confirming that there is no military solution and that the crisis in Libya will only be resolved by returning to the political path, including those issued by the Security Council , which approved the need to stop the war and launch efforts towards dialogue and national reconciliation. "

Unfortunately, the newspaper lamented, "there is virtually no impact from all of these efforts, and Libya's dilemma comes down to the lack of real intentions to end the fighting and engage in serious dialogue ending to the transitional bodies and putting a mechanism in place for the organization of a referendum on the draft Constitution and to start building the state based on constitutional provisions ".

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/IOL/GABON2020

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