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Libya Oil Shut Down Amidst Official Abduction
Libyan protesters shut down oil pipelines after the abduction of a security official, highlighting the country's ongoing political instability and the power of militias.
French
Nigeria
PoliticsMiddle EastAfricaProtestsOilLibyaAbduction
Libyan GovernmentCentral Security DepartmentLibyan Militias
Mustafa Al-WhayshiBrigadier General
- How much oil production is affected by the pipeline closure?
- Approximately 350,000 barrels of oil per day, about one-third of Libya's total production, are affected by the closure of the pipeline linking Sharara and el Feel oil fields to the Zawiya refinery.
- What prompted the closure of oil pipelines in Zintan, Libya?
- Residents of Zintan, Libya, shut down oil pipelines in protest of the abduction of Brigadier General Mustafa al-Whayshi, head of the Central Security Department of intelligence. They hold the Dbeibah government responsible and demand his immediate release.
- How did Libyan intelligence services react to the kidnapping?
- Intelligence services condemned the kidnapping, stating it occurred within the context of investigations into matters impacting Libyan national security. The incident highlights the ongoing instability and power struggles within Libya.
- What is the broader context of the abduction of Mustafa al-Whayshi?
- The abduction of al-Whayshi is seen as part of ongoing investigations into security incidents, but it's also consistent with a pattern of Libyan militias using abductions to pressure officials or to hinder corruption investigations.
- What actions did the protesters take to enforce the pipeline closure?
- The protesters, who gathered in large numbers with armed vehicles, blocked roads leading to Zintan, burning tires to prevent access. They threaten further actions if al-Whayshi is not released.