The Interim Government announced Monday it would send forces to Libya’s southern region to tighten security in the area and secure the oil fields.
The east-based Interim Government said this force, which belongs to the Ministry of Defense, is the third to be sent to the southern region.
It added that the force will be deployed along the Libyan border with Chad, Niger, Sudan, Egypt and Algeria to fight terrorist groups and criminal gangs and ensure security.
In the past period, the southern region has witnessed instability as the Chadian opposition groups waged a war in Marzuq, part of the greater Sahara Desert region, killing, wounding and forcing dozens to flee their homes.
This comes alongside the threat posed on oil fields as some armed groups carried out sabotage acts that led to the suspension of oil production.
In late July, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced on Wednesday a force majeure on el-Sharara oil field.
“This decision was prompted by a new illegal Sharara pipeline valve closure halting crude oil supply from Sharara to the port [Zawiya port]. This is the second illegal valve closure and breach of pipeline security by unidentified perpetrators in the last ten days,” according to the statement of the NOC.
