On 27 April, Libya-Analysis Managing Director Rhiannon Smith spoke to Voice of America’s Mohamed Elshinnawi about the ongoing oil blockades in Libya. Rhiannon assessed that Libya’s oil and gas sector has once again been politicized amid continuing tension between Libya's two rival governments: the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba, and the Government of National Stability (GNS) led by the House of Representatives’ (HoR) designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashaagha. Rhiannon argued that Dabaiba has no intention of leaving office in Tripoli and there is little chance of a compromise government being created. Political volatility has led to further disruption of Libya’s oil sector as domestic actors move to gain control of Libya’s oil revenues and the upper hand over the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Recent protests, according to Rhiannon, are being coordinated by Khalifa Haftar's camp and have cut Libya’s oil production by half. International actors are likely to increase pressure on Libyan authorities to put an end to these protests amid global high energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Click here to listen to the segment, Rhiannon's interview beginning at 8:48.