Two rival governments are sparring over the control of oil production in Libya. Libya’s prime minister-designate Fathi Bashagha has offered to help the UK replace Russian oil in return for help with post-war reconstruction, in a move seen as a direct challenge to incumbent Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Bashagha was appointed prime minister by the eastern-based parliament in March, but Dbeibah has refused to step down. The eastern-based parliament holds that Dbeibah’s mandate ended when December elections failed to materialize, and a new prime minister must lead the country through new elections plans. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Dbeibah called for an investigation into the oilfield closures.

Source: Libya Today April 20, 2022 17:02 UTC