Haftar orders resumption of domestic flights for oil companies

TRIPOLI-  25 September 2020: Commander of the Libyan National Army(LNA)  Khalifa Haftar instructed to resume domestic flights to and from oil fields and ports in the North African country, said an official at the Petroleum Facilities Guard media office.

In statements broadcast by Libya al Hadath news channel on Friday, Ibrahim al-Faidi said Haftar's decision was meant to transport staffers and users of oil companies.

Haftar’s decision came two days after his meeting with Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh in Cairo, within the framework of the Inter-Libyan dialogue led by Cairo to find political solution to the Libyan crisis.

Egypt earlier announced an initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, which posits a Libyan-Libyan resolution as a basis for resolving the country’s conflict, drawing on earlier international efforts, including the Berlin conference.

On September 22, Egyptian President Sisi addressed several ongoing topics during the speech he gave at the United Nations’ 75th General Assembly which was held virtually due to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

President Sisi said that his country is committed to a political solution for the current crisis in Libya based on the Skhirat agreement, the Berlin conference, and Cairo’s declaration which set a schedule for establishing aconsensual government.

The president said that the current conflict in Libya harms the stability of the neighboring countries, adding that his country will protect its National Security if the armed clashes reached Sirte and Jufra cities.

“Egypt is keen to support the Libyans in their battle against the terrorist militias and unlawful regional intervention,” added Sisi.

Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It now has two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the country.

The country’s internationally recognized government is based in Tripoli, while KhalifaHaftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, is supported by a parallel administration based in the east.

Walaa Ali and MENA contributed to this story.