Protests Shut Down El Feel Oilfield and Zueitina Port in Libya

Since March, when the eastern-based parliament selected Fathi Bashagha to replace Dbeibah, Libya has had two rival administrations, reigniting a deadlock between the country's east and west. Dbeibah has resisted ceding control to Bashagha, who has not yet arrived in Tripoli.

NOC, the state-owned oil corporation, stated in a statement that a group of unidentified individuals infiltrated El Feel's facilities the previous day and blocked staff from working.

Meanwhile, two Zueitina oil engineers told Reuters that demonstrators gained access to the port on Sunday morning, stopping a vessel from loading 1 million barrels.

The demonstrators in Zueitina said in a video statement shared on social media that they would shut down the port and its oil fields unless Dbeibah resigns.

The demonstrators, who identified themselves as a group of Zueitina locals including elders, also demanded the dismissal of NOC CEO Mustafa Sanalla for the company's refusal to deliver oil money to Dbeibah's administration.

According to the finance ministry, the NOC sent $6 billion in oil earnings to the ministry's central bank account on Thursday.

Dbeibah's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to a statement issued Sunday by the oil and gas ministry, these closures "would undermine NOC's position in global markets as a consequence of its failure to meet its responsibilities."