Russian mercenaries enter Libya's key oil field - National Oil Corporation

Russian and other foreign mercenaries have entered a key oil field in southern Libya, the conflict-hit country's National Oil Corporation said on Friday.

After a month-long suspension, Al Sharara, under the control of militias loyal to eastern military warlord Khalifa Haftar, resumed operations at the start of June, only to halt work again three days later at the instruction of those fighters.

Plunged into civil war

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. 

Libya's new government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to the military offensive by Haftar’s militia, resulting in civilian chaos and more than 1,000 deaths.

Haftar's militias, which are backed by Russia, Egypt and the UAE, launched an assault in April 2019 to wrest control of the capital Tripoli from the UN-backed Government of National Accord.

Read more: Italy, Germany, US seek Libya ceasefire after Egypt threat

But warlord Haftar's militants withdrew from the southern outskirts of the capital, and the entire west of the country, earlier this month, after a string of battlefield defeats to the Turkish-backed GNA.

Moscow denies any involvement in the presence of Russian mercenaries in the conflict, despite a UN report in May alleging mercenaries from the Wagner paramilitary group, reputedly close to President Vladimir Putin, are on the ground.

Read more: The US says it has strong evidence of Russia's aircraft delivery to Libya

US opposes Russian interference 

US Embassy in Tripoli said the involvement of Russia’s Wagner mercenaries group was a direct assault against Libya’s sovereignty.

“We share the NOC’s deep concern about the shameful interference of Wagner and other foreign mercenaries against NOC facilities and personnel at the al-Sharara oil field, which constitutes a direct assault against Libya’s sovereignty and prosperity,” the embassy said. 

“The Embassy also regrets that Libyan parties have been unable to reach a solution that would lift the needless oil and gas blockade and allow the NOC to resume its vital work across the country on behalf of all Libyans,” it added.

Putin, Macron discuss Libya

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed crises in Libya, Syria and Ukraine in a video conference with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

"Today we will discuss everything that I have just listed, one way or another, and of course we will talk about the growth of explosive potential in hot spots, about the problems of Ukraine, the Balkans, the situation in Syria and Libya," Putin said.

The Russian president also invited his French counterpart to Russia, which he accepted, saying he will come at the end of summer if the conditions are favorable.

Foreign attempts on oil

NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla condemned the latest intervention in Al Sharara, located in the Oubari region some 900 km south of Tripoli.

"Libya's oil is for the Libyan people, and I completely reject attempts by foreign countries to prevent the resumption of oil production," he said.

"We do not need Russian and other foreign mercenaries in Libyan oilfields whose goal is to prevent oil production," said Sanalla.

"We need patriotic, professional, and independent security forces who will facilitate the resumption of oil production for the benefit of all the Libyan people, with revenues allocated fairly and transparently across the whole of Libya."

Oil wealth

When in operation, Al Sharara produces 315,000 barrels per day, nearly one-third of Libya's crude output.

Oil exports are the source of almost all the state's revenues, and Libya has the biggest proven crude reserves in Africa.

Al Sharara is run by the Akakus company, a joint venture between NOC, Spanish oil giant Repsol, France's Total, Austria's OMV and Norway's Statoil.

Read more: Libyan war: Where key international players stand