Southern Libya deteriorates amid governmental negligence

Southern Libya has been suffering from the deterioration of everyday services, such as electricity, medicines, and ration goods, while successive governments have turned a blind eye.

The locals keep complaining about the poor living conditions in the Libyan south and the debilitating infrastructure of most of the cities.

Moreover, southern banks have been lacking enough liquidity for eight years, which exacerbates the burden of residents there.

Since last year, the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar, has taken it upon itself to remove militants and Chadian opposition forces in southern Libya, which also meant the area’s key oilfields would be under its control.

However, oil revenues still go to the rival UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), represented in the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Although eastern Libya tried to establish a parallel NOC, it was not able to seal deals because of the lack of international recognition.

Meanwhile, the Tripoli-based NOC and its affiliate Brega Petroleum Marketing Company (BPMC) have sent fuel and cooking gas convoys to the southern region since December to help the locals.

This initiative is part of NOC’s ongoing efforts to ensure the continuous delivery of fuel to the south at official prices, and the curbing of fuel price manipulation and smuggling in the region.