Libya – Bashagha attacks Britain and asks for Western support in exchange for Libyan oil
The head of the Libyan government appointed by the parliament in Tobruk, Fathi Bashagha, has lashed out at Britain calling the UK “lazy” while brandishing the oil deal in exchange for Western support for him.
In an interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph, Bashagha said his country could help make up for Russia’s oil shortage if the West helps it recover from years of war.
“Through the trade links that have been established, we can improve the lives of the Libyan people and provide the resources that we know Europe and the world need,” said Bashagha, a former interior minister.
“He wants to expel Russian mercenaries from Libya, including the Wagner Group, and to bring peace, stability and democracy to Libya,” he stressed.
Bashagha criticized Britain as “lazy for its manifest failure to help Libya after it participated in the intervention against Gaddafi in 2011”, but said that “the UK can still help rebuild Libya”, adding: “Give us hope and give us a chance.”
“Give us the necessary investment and support and we can turn Libya into a prominent nation-state and a pillar of the international community,” he added.
Bashagha called on the UK to “use its economic and diplomatic influence to ensure the reconstruction of Libya”, saying “Britain can do a lot for Libya.”
“Bashagha rejected the idea of peacekeepers, but said the West could provide technology and help secure Libya’s land and sea borders, suggesting this would stem the flow of migrants, the newspaper reported.”
Pashaga, 59, was elected by a vote organized by the Tobruk Parliament in March, following the failure of elections scheduled for December last year. But Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, 63, refused to accept the operation.
“According to the British newspaper, Libya’s oil industry has recovered from the collapse caused by the revolution against Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and the ensuing civil war, but has not yet reached its pre-war level.”
This week, the oil fields were the scene of protests. The largest oil field was shut down to protest Dbeibeh’s refusal to leave office.
According to the paper, the Dabiba government was the product of a UN-sponsored effort to end the war between rival governments in the west and east. However, the failure of the government in Tripoli to organize elections prompted the Council in Tobruk to elect Bashagha.
