Libya's east-based government declared on Monday that it is invoking "force majeure" to suspend all oil production and exports in response to the appointment of an interim governor for the Central Bank of Libya by the rival Tripoli-based Presidential Council.
Osama Hammad, the prime minister appointed by the parliament, stated that the halt in oil exports will continue "until further notice" due to the "attacks on the leadership and employees of the Central Bank of Libya."
"Whereas these attacks and attempts to forcefully enter the bank's headquarters resulted in halting and obstructing the entire flow of the state's financial transactions, and led to harm to citizens in general ... The Libyan government declares a state of force majeure on all oil fields, ports, institutions and facilities, and stops the production and export of oil until further notice," Hammad added in a statement.
