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Libya's Rebels Want Political Autonomy and Oil Exports

The rebels in eastern Libya control the oilfields and say they want independence from Tripoli. Meanwhile, the government seems helpless.
Photo via Javier Blas

Libyan rebels, emboldened by their first attempt to independently export oil as well as their control over many of the country’s oil wells and ports, are now demanding more rights and autonomy from Tripoli.

Osama Buera, a founding member of the federalist Cyrenaica Political Committee, also told VICE News they are planning more attempts to sell oil. The rebels’ first effort ended on Sunday when US Navy SEALs seized the "Morning Glory" tanker, carrying $38 million worth of oil, near Cyprus.

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Buera said that the rebels control all the oil resources of eastern Libya and have an urgent need to export it in order to maintain their militias.

“We know it’s non-democratic, but it’s the only way to get through in this anarchy we have,” Buera said. “The central government is not paying any attention to security, so we started to secure the region through its own revenues.”

Since the ouster of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan on March 11, Libya’s weak and splintered government is increasingly losing control of the country amid the escalating standoff with the rebels.

Last week, the central government’s forces mounted a new offensive against the rebels, briefly regaining control of Sirte airbase and three oilfields: Zueitina, Al Fida, and Al Ghani. On Monday, however, a government spokesman confirmed their forces had withdrawn, meaning Sirte and the oilfields are back under rebel control, according to Libya Herald.

Since these tactical victories, the rebels have stepped up demands to sell oil and asserted their political independence.

'We’re still pulling towards a unified Libya — but if a single bullet is shot by pro-government forces, we will immediately declare independence.'

“Nowadays, after the last seven months, the approach is towards full independence,” said Buera.

The rebels of the oil-rich Cyrenaica region held their first Congress meeting two days ago, discussing their new demands, including potential unilateral declaration of independence from Tripoli.

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“It’s a possible approach, [momentum for] it is starting to increase,” Buera said, claiming that 2,000 volunteers have joined the rebels in the last five days. “We’re still pulling towards [a unified] Libya — but if a single bullet is shot [by pro-government forces], we will immediately declare independence.”

Buera denied reports of a new deal with the government.

US government officials have condemned the rebels’ attempts to export oil. “Glad we were able to respond positively to Libya's request for help in preventing illegal sale of its oil on stateless ship,” tweeted Deborah K Jones, US ambassador to Libya.

Without a cohesive administration and functional army, however, the Libyan government appears unable to reign in the rebels, threatening further disintegration and an intensified fight for the country’s natural resources.

The government and the rebels are also accusing each other of escalating violence and terrorist attacks. On Monday, Minister of Justice Salah Marghani appealed for international help to fight terrorists in Benghazi.

At least eight young military cadets were killed and more than a dozen were injured in a car bomb explosion there on Monday.

“The country has no army and police force,” Marghani said, according to the Tripoli Post. “Asking for international assistance in this fight is not violation of Libyan sovereignty. What violates our sovereignty is the killing of these youth in cold blood.”

The Justice Ministry, which is holding around 5,500 people, is struggling to maintain the rule of law. It missed a March 2 deadline to transfer all detainees into the government’s jurisdiction, which means an “unknown number of people” are held outside of government custody, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Meanwhile, the militias are only growing stronger.

“The longer Libyan authorities tolerate the militias acting with impunity, the more entrenched they become, and the less willing to step down,” Sarah Leah Whitson, director of HRW's Middle East and North Africa Division, said in a statement earlier this month. “Putting off repeated deadlines to disarm and disband militias only prolongs the havoc they are creating throughout the country.”

Photo via GFDL