The Libyan National Oil Corporation confirmed it had invoked force majeure on oil exports from two key southern fields, a clause that allows for a failure to fulfill international contracts due to a sudden disruptive event. A doctor and resident of southern Tripoli, Mohamed Malek, 27, said he fled his neighborhood late Sunday when he heard sporadic exchanges of gunfire. Dozens of men from tribal groups loyal to Hifter continued on Monday to camp out in the two southern oil fields, al-Sharara, Libya’s largest, and al-Feel. Only offshore fields and one smaller facility remain operational, the national oil company said. Oil, the lifeline of Libya’s economy, has long been a key factor in the civil war, as rival authorities jostle for control of oil fields and state revenue.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 20, 2020 19:18 UTC