Libya’s permanent representative to the United Nations has called on the United States and the European Union to impose sanctions for the activities of Russian mercenaries and other actors involved in the conflict in the North African country.
Russian mercenaries and other foreign fighters entered the Sharara oil field on Friday, according to the Libyan National Petroleum Corporation (NOC).
“Since the United Nations Secondary Council did not sanction individuals / mercenaries like Wagner / Haftar and others, who violate all resolutions, the United States / EU should take action and freeze assets like any terrorist organization and demand that those who finance them surrender accounts, “Taher el-Sonni wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
Since the UN Sec. Council failed to sanction individuals / mercenaries like Wagner / Hafter and others, who violate all resolutions, the US / EU must take such actions and freeze assets like any terrorist organization. and hold those who finance them accountable, we witnessed rapid actions before in others with less threat https://t.co/b6zHdoCCtH
– Taher EL-Sonni طاهر السني (@TaherSonni) June 27, 2020
On Friday, the CON said that Russian mercenaries and other foreigners entered the Sharara oil field in a convoy of vehicles and met with representatives of the Oil Facilities Guard (PFG), forces established to maintain security in the oil fields.
The Sharara oil field produces more than 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making up about a third of the oil-rich country’s output.
Production resumed production on June 7 after a parenthesis of months that caused billions of dollars in losses.
On Friday, the US embassy in Libya condemned the occupation of the oil field by Wagner and other foreign mercenaries as part of “a foreign-backed, unsupported campaign to undermine Libya’s energy sector.”
The Kremlin has denied that it uses private military contractors abroad.
Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa, but nine years of conflict and violence since the overthrow of ruler Muammar Gaddafi have hampered production and exports.
In April 2019, renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive against the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). More than 1,000 people have died in the violence.
GNA-aligned forces have expelled Haftar fighters from much of northwestern Libya in recent weeks after Turkey stepped up its support for the GNA.
Haftar’s forces, Supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, they have maintained control of eastern Libya.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
