Chaos and corruption still surround the re-opening of Libya’s oil ports. After national congress members mediated between the interim government headed by Abdallah al-Thani, and Ibrahim al-Jathran,  head of what is known as the Barqa Political Office (which controls oil ports in the east of the country- about 60% of Libya’s oil output), some solutions were reached  among the two sides this past spring. 

Chaos and corruption still surround the re-opening of Libya’s oil ports. After national congress members mediated between the interim government headed by Abdallah al-Thani, and Ibrahim al-Jathran,  head of what is known as the Barqa Political Office (which controls oil ports in the east of the country- about 60% of Libya’s oil output), some solutions were reached  among the two sides this past spring. 

Yet Idris Bukhamada, head of Libya’s Petroleum Facilities Guard was far from d’accord with the solutions. Bukhamada refuses, he says, to be among the many “scapegoats” forced by the government to accept compromises to please Jathran into re-opening of oil ports he has kept closed for more than a year. 

Yet although Bukhamada has been critical of Jathran for closing oil ports in the east, he  may have had a hand in closing oil ports in the al-Wahat area, 400 kilometers southwest of Benghazi as well as the port of the Sirte Company in Brega- although he denies this.

Idris Bukhamada, could you brief us on what is now happening in Libya’s Petroleum Facilities Guard?

What’s happening is an attempt to violate the legitimacy of legal decisions. I was surprised and shocked by al-Thani’s decision of appointing Colonel Ali al-Ahrash as head of Libya’s Petroleum Facilities Guard. The head of the government does not have the power to issue such decisions.  It is only the supreme commander of the armed forces, Nouri Abu Sahmain, who has the right to do so. 

What did you do then?

Of course, I did not accept the decision and I also refused to hand over the administration to al-Ahrash because the decision is void, especially after the confirmation I received from Abu Sahmain who asked me not to hand it over. He also confirmed to me that another letter will be issued to annul al-Thani’s decision. 

This has actually happened and the letter was issued, but it was not implemented by al-Thani, who believes that the appointment of al-Ahrash is part of the solution to the problems suffered by oil ports, which are controlled by Ibrahim Jathran. In response, al-Ahrash besieged the apparatus by 15 armed vehicles in an attempt to force me to hand over my responsibilities to him but I didn’t.

Why didn’t you as long as there are those who believe that the appointment of al-Ahrash is a big part of the solution? 

How could he be a part of the solution?  Most of the problems suffered by Libya’s Petroleum Facilities Guard were created during the period when al-Ahrash headed the administration.  In addition, the agreement reached was an illegal deal mediated by a number of the national congress members who offered to appoint me as an ambassador outside Libya or as a military attaché in any country of my choice.

I refused these offers from a national standpoint and I consider myself an ordinary state employee.  I will obey the orders when they come from a legitimate body. 

You were among the strongest opponents of Jathran when he ordered his force to close a number of oil ports.  Today, you are doing the same thing in ordering the closure of oil ports, in addition to the port of the Sirte Company in Brega.  Doesn’t this raise a big question mark?

First of all, I did not order the closure of oil ports or the Sirte Company’s port. This was done by demonstrators who are members of Libya’s Petroleum Facilities Guard. During their first sit-in, which took place two weeks ago, I asked them to open the port and the fields and they positively responded to my request. 

Like you, I was surprised to see that they came again and demanded that I stay in my position as the head of this apparatus.

At the same time, the demonstrators knew that al-Thani would pay more than three million dinars as salaries to Ibrahim Jathran’s force.  What made them angry is that they heard that there are members in the al-Jathran force who are not Libyans and who do not have national numbers and they will be getting salaries too.

Is it true that there are non-Libyan members of the Barqa Defense Force? What are their nationalities? 

Yes, there is a large number of non-Libyans in the force and most of them have African nationalities. 

Is there any contact between you and Jathran? Who is actually controlling oil ports in the oil crescent as well as the al-Hariqa port in Tobruk? Is it your administration or the Barqa Defense Force? 

No, there is no contact whatsoever between Jathran and me. Regarding the oil ports in Libya, they are all under our control, but we don’t force exports in order to avoid bloody confrontations and sabotage acts that will arise as a result of oil export.  I cannot deny that the Barqa Defense Force is present in these ports, but our presence is more dominant. 

How long will this situation continue? Are you considering the use of force to end it?

I personally do not consider myself as part of the problems occurring in the oil ports and fields. As I told you, I am a state employee and I will hand over my duties to any person. 

However, I will not hand them over to Colonel Ali al-Ahrash because he is the cause of all the problems going on now.

With regard to the use of force, it is practically impossible. I consider that the government of al-Thani and the members of the congress, who mediated the conclusion of this suspicious deal are responsible for whatever is going to happen in the coming days in the oil facilities in particular, and the repercussions of this deal for Libya in general.