Tripoli threatens to suspend activities of 40 foreign firms in Libya

In an effort to pressuring Europe to stop an eastern military offensive against Tripoli, Libya’s internationally recognised government asked 40 foreign firms including French oil major Total to renew their licences or have their operations suspended.

Total, with large-scale oil and gas interests in Libya, is the only company on the list known to have extensive dealings there. Others include French aerospace firm Thales, German engineering firm Siemens and telecoms equipment firm Alcatel-Lucent, now owned by Finland’s Nokia.

The firms have three months to renew their licences, the economy and industry ministry said in a decree, after an official earlier said their operations had been suspended.

The ministry cited legal procedures, but the action comes as the Tripoli-based government seeks to drum up support to fend off an assault by Khalifa Haftar’s Libya National Army (LNA) force, which has been trying for one month to take the capital.

Tripoli is home to the recognized administration, but some European countries such as France have also supported eastern military commander Haftar as a way to fight militants in a country in chaos since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The decree was published after Tripoli prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, coming from Berlin and Rome, to bolster his case.

Last month, the Tripoli-based interior ministry suspended security cooperation with France, accusing Paris of backing Haftar, a commander from the east of the country where a rival government holds sway.

In the capital Tripoli there was less fighting than last week as life slowed down with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Via France 24