US sanctions Libyan militia leader over attacks on oil facility

Africa

The US Treasury Department in the US has set a target against the leader of a Libyan militia with sanctions for directing attacks on oil facilities in the country, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Jathran damaged peace and stability in Libya by overseeing forces that attacked Libyan oil facilities in the “oil crescent,” a lucrative target for rogue militias and criminals, the department said.

It indicated that  the militia had caused many fatalities in Libya this year.

“Jathran’s repeated militia attacks on Libya’s oil facilities have done colossal damage to its economy and robbed the Libyan people of billions of dollars in oil revenue,” said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

She said Jathran’s attacks have been affecting the Libyan oil exports since 2013.

Jathran and his allies had attacked and taken control of the Libyan oil ports Ras Lanuf and Al Sidra in June, the department said. This resulted in Libya losing more than $1.4 billion in revenue and setting back efforts to promote political progress and stability. Jathran was blacklisted by The UN Security Council Libya sanctions committee on Tuesday. Additionally, he has been subjected to a global freeze and travel ban.

The judicial authorities in Tripoli are after Jathran because of his participation in blockades of oil terminals and attempts to export oil independently.

Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi and has been divided between rival governments and military factions based in the east and west of the country since 2014, causing political deadlock and an economic crisis.

 

-Reuters

 

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