Chairman of Libya’s NOC arrives in Abu Dhabi for Sharara reopening talks

The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced late on Monday that its Chairman Mustafa Sanallah had arrived in the UAE for talks over the closure of Sharara oilfield. 

NOC explained that Sanllah would meet with local, regional and international parties in the UAE to discuss the issue of Sharara oilfield.

In the meantime, on the same day, the Head of the Presidential Council, Faye Al-Sirraj arrived in Abu Dhabi for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayid, according to his spokesman Mohammed El Sallak.

Local media in Libya reported Monday that the commander of the self-styled army Khalifa Haftar was also invited for the discussions, but he refused to go, saying his refusal is based on the fact that the UAE wants to push him to have himself and his forces under the Presidential Council’s command.

According to one source from local media outlets in Libya, Haftar went to Abu Dhabi but later left as he was faced with the push for accepting being under the civilian authority of the Presidential Council.

It’s yet unlear what the UAE is trying to enforce through the unannounced meetings with top Libyan officials, however, observers think that the UAE is trying to influence Al-Sirraj to accept Haftar as a military commander under the Presidential Council’s authority and the latter to accept Al-Sirraj as his civilian superior.