Ahmad 
The crisis of the Libyan Oil Ministry goes beyond the internal disputes of the National Unity Government that has expired. It presents a scene that summarizes the regional and international conflict over Libya and presents the contradictions of sharing power through foreign loyalties.
According to an initial scenario, the presence of two oil “ministries” within one government constitutes a precedent at the political level, and provides an area of inability to manage Libyan resources to become part of the process of monopolizing wealth for a country that is considered one of the richest countries in the world in oil resources, as the huge reserves of oil and gas become part of Political conflict is an essential determinant in any upcoming dialogue process, as Libyan oil reshapes internal forces and builds a wide margin around state institutions, in which external interventions are active in an attempt to influence Libyan sovereign decisions.
Background of the conflict over the Ministry of Oil
The crisis of the Libyan Ministry of Oil carries with it a scenario of government manipulation of the forms of administration of all state institutions. It is a typical scenario through which one can read the government formation based solely on sharing influence and relying on potential investments, and the details of the crisis make it clear that government action has become based on centers of power that use legislation to implement “agendas.” Linked only to the perpetuation of political and economic contradictions.
In practice, the scenario appeared according to a clear line that began with the Administrative Control Authority suspending the Minister of Oil and Gas in the government of Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, Mohamed Aoun, from work temporarily in March 2024, against the backdrop of investigations into allegations of financial violations, and two days later, the interim government appointed Abdel Hamid’s successor. Al-Sadiq as his replacement, then Aoun was restored to his position by decision of the Oversight Authority in May, but the competition between him and Abdel-Sadiq overpowers continued, which led to a state of confusion within the ministry.
What happened constituted a deliberate phenomenon that placed the Ministry of Oil within two administrative authorities, and at the same time created a division over the justifications of the Administrative Control Authority for suspending Aoun. Regardless of the views on this suspension, it created within the one ministry that is considered the most important in providing state revenues an exceptional situation that carries It has two things:
- The first is that the suspension decision is purely political because it brought with it a political division and not judicial referrals that could clarify the facts and nature of what is happening in state institutions.
- The second is the contradictions that the decision revealed within state institutions, whose positions varied, as political parties and members of the Supreme Council of State condemned it, while other forces supporting the Dbeibeh government and the head of the National Oil Corporation, Farhat Bin Guadara, ignored it.
Certainly, this form of governmental conflict is always repeated within sovereign institutions, and it repeats the course of the Dbeibeh government’s struggle with the governor of the Bank of Libya, Al-Siddiq Al-Kabir, and makes it clear that the Libyan ruling institutions do not only carry with them internal contradictions, but also represent a conflict at the general political level.
Conflict between regional and international companies
The presence of two ministers holding the same portfolio is considered a form of confusion at the level of the state’s performance, and in the Libyan case, it gives more than one party the freedom to make decisions related to oil, which constitutes the lifeblood of Libya. The issue goes beyond conflicting instructions from both ministers and constitutes an indication of a deeper situation that carries with it three basic matters. :
- The nature of the oil files related to European or even Turkish and Arab companies. The creation of a state of division within the Ministry of Oil reflects deep differences with the Prime Minister of the Interim Government related to granting concessions to companies such as the Italian Eni, the Emirati ADNOC, and the Turkish Energy Company.
What happened in the Ministry of Oil illustrates some regional roles through companies and investments. Turkey plays a prominent role in Libya by supporting the national unity government in Tripoli, as it seeks to secure oil contracts for its companies and enhance its influence in the Mediterranean. In return, the UAE supports the forces in Benghazi and is trying to secure… Shares of Libyan oil wealth.
- One aspect of what happened is the Italian-French competition for influence in Libya, as Italy considers Libya a traditional area of influence for it due to geographical proximity and historical relations, and Italian companies such as Eni are seeking to strengthen their presence in the Libyan oil sector. In contrast, France is seeking to strengthen its influence in The region by supporting forces opposed to the Tripoli government, in the hope of securing oil contracts for its companies.
There is nothing new in the Italian-French rivalry, as in all aspects of the Libyan crisis there was a contradiction between Paris and Rome, and this fierce competition is primarily due to the economic and strategic interests of each country, specifically the oil bill and the contracts of their oil companies, namely the French “Total” and the Italian “Eni”. .
- The detailed paper remains with Abdul Hamid Al-Dbeibeh, who seeks to conclude direct contracts with some companies, bypassing the Ministry of Oil, and it is believed that this approach is what led to the delay of Aoun’s full return to office, for fear that he would oppose these deals.
Dbeibeh reinforces the dispute within the Ministry of Oil. The presence of Khalifa Abdel Sadiq instead of Aoun at the meeting of the oil producing countries (OPEC) gave indications about Dbeibeh’s support for Abdel Sadiq, and this matter will certainly affect the process of reforms of the National Oil Corporation and efforts to raise production rates from one and a half million barrels to two million barrels. Daily.
Regional and international competition increases the complexity of the political scene in Libya and enhances the state of instability in the oil sector. This matter will appear more strongly in any upcoming political dialogue or even the possibilities of holding general elections in the country. International efforts remain within the scope of the West’s view of Libya as a geography of wealth. Not as a sovereign state and people searching for stability and development.
Written by Mazen Bilal
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