The conflicting political and military factions in Libya have multiplied recently, with each claiming it is seeking to achieve the 2011 revolution’s aims: justice, safety, and security.

The conflicting political and military factions in Libya have multiplied recently, with each claiming it is seeking to achieve the 2011 revolution’s aims: justice, safety, and security.

The so-called Political Council of Barka Region (PCBR), formed on 16 August 2013, is one of the most prominent of these factions, since it controls the most important oil ports in the so-called oil crescent area in Libya.

Ibrahim Jathran, head of the PCBR, signed an agreement with Prime Minister Abdullah al-Theni’s government to return the oil to government control. But recent incidents in Benghazi and Tripoli, which happened while the Libyan parliament was holding its sessions in the port city of Tobruk, have faced Jathran with some tough choices and made the Libyan people wonder about his stance.

His ambiguous position has led some to believe that he supports the Islamist militia Ansar al-Sharia. But those close to him insist that Jathran supports the army and the police, though he has reservations about the commanders of Operation Dignity, the large-scale assault on Islamist forces led by retired Major General Khalifa Haftar.

What does the PCBR think of the fighting in Benghazi between the forces of Operation Dignity and the rebels of the Shoura Council?

We totally deplore what is happening in Benghazi. This city represents Libya’s independence and is the mother of the revolution as well as Barka’s capital. These incidents are planned by the Muslim Brotherhood, supported by Qatar and Turkey. Subjugating Benghazi means putting Libya under control.

The enemy is well-known and those who plan and pump money into it are also well-known and their motives recognizable. I support mobilizing a national army whose creed is loyalty to God and Libya, and activating the security forces as well as the police. The absence of these two institutions, due to a scheme by the Muslim Brotherhood, which dominated and took over the country, is the main reason behind Benghazi’s tragic events of the past three years.

It is well-known that the Muslim Brotherhood considers the army and police as “tartars” who need to be killed. That’s why they formed both secret and open armed groups to achieve their goals in controlling the people’s resources, and now they are setting fire to Benghazi and Tripoli as they did to Cairo in 1952.

What do you say to the rumours that you are talking to Ansar al-Sharia?

There is absolutely no communication between the PCBR and any other organization. We are a peaceful movement that demands political participation for all Libyan regions and restoration of the united country established by our ancestors with the constitution of 1951. Thus, our struggle is purely political rather than military. Nevertheless, this does not stop us from defending the Libyan people and preserving Libya’s resources.

What would you do if Ansar al-Sharia took over Benghazi?

It is a hypothetical question, but we support the state’s legitimacy and the Libyan people’s choices. Libya can only be governed by agreement between all of its factions. The Libyan people are Muslim and we do not have other religions or sects, as in the other countries, which is an advantage. Therefore, Libya cannot by governed by a single faction.

Libya is going through a difficult time, but we are optimistic that the country will resolve all of its crises especially since the parliament has indeed started functioning. It will surely benefit and learn from the mistakes of the expired General National Conference (GNC).

That means that you recognize the parliament as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

Yes.

The parliament issued an Anti-Terrorism Law on 9 September, which includes articles that some politicians say target your council directly?

The parliament represents the legislative authority in Libya and it goes without saying that terrorism has been spreading on a wide scale. It went as far as beheading, systematic killings, including of women, vandalism, attacking and abducting diplomats. Hence, the legislator should eradicate terrorism, enact laws to criminalize it, and set punishments for its perpetrators. We proposed some modifications, but they did not harm the general principle of criminalizing terrorist acts.

Do you have any influence over the parliament?

We do not claim any influence, but we have a complete political vision which is based on peaceful co-existence among various factions of the Libyan people. 

Has the agreement between the PCBR and the Libyan government been affected by incidents in Tripoli?

The agreement, which was sponsored by seniors and chieftains, is about the participation of the people of the Barka region in national decision-making, giving them some ministries, restoring the institutions which were moved to Tripoli including the national airline and the oil companies, restoring the administration of Zowaitna Oil Company to Zowaitana (west of Benghazi), and the participation of Barka’s youth in higher education, scholarships and delegations.

The agreement includes demanding the salaries and rights of the oil facilities’ guards in the central region. They are associated with the Libyan army staff, which means that they are civil servants, but are financially affiliated to the national oil company. The government should meet its commitments to its citizens. The government has indeed started to do this. The agreement is binding to its two parties.

No doubt events in Tripoli have affected all of Libya, but by the will of God and the people, the country will be back on track, especially now that the parliament has started its activities. We hope it will set things straight again and achieve the people’s will.

What do you say to the expired GNC’s decision to appoint Omar Hasi as prime minister?

Since the Libyan people elected a parliament in transparent and fair elections which were recognized internationally, it is the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people and therefore has the authority to appoint a prime minister. That is what happened when Abdullah Theni was chosen for the position.

It is obvious that the decisions of the parliament are legitimate and we support that legitimacy. In other words, we are against the expired GNC, which worked against the will of the Libyan people, who have sovereignty over their country.