The state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) of the UN-backed Libyan government on Friday condemned the presence of foreign mercenaries in oil fields and ports.
“NOC condemns the deployment of Wagner Group, Syrian and Janjaweed mercenaries in the oil installations, most recently at Es Sidra port, and NOC demands their immediate withdrawal from all facilities,” NOC said in a statement.
NOC called on the UN Support Mission in Libya to send observers to “supervise the demilitarization of NOC operations across the country.”
NOC also expressed “deep” concerns about “the reports of the increasing likelihood of intensified military conflict, potentially extending to oil and gas facilities.”
NOC on Sunday declared force majeure on oil exports again, citing renewed oil blockade by the east-based army which is demanding transparency in the distribution of oil revenues.
According to NOC, Libya lost more than 17 billion U.S. dollars as a result of a blockade of nearly six months.
The North African country has been plagued by political division and conflicts ever since the fall of its former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011
