On Tuesday, the Libyan Parliament-designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha discussed the requirements for establishing a college for police officers, with a focus on accepting recruits from the southern region.
This came during Bashagha’s meeting with Interior Minister, Issam Abu Zariba at the government headquarters in Sirte. They discussed initiating a new course for officers and recruits.
The meeting also dealt with an increasing focus on providing security at border crossings, reducing smuggling operations, and combating illegal immigration.
Earlier, Bashagha urged Italy’s energy giant, ENI to immediately stop negotiations with the “illegitimate” management of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“To the leadership of Eni. It has come to our attention that you have entered discussions with the current illegitimate management of NOC and the former Government of National Unity whose mandate expired last December,” Bashagha said in a statement on Monday.
“The purpose is to amend the shares of participation in the Libyan offshore areas, to the major detriment of Libya’s sovereign interests and those of its people,” he noted.
“We ask that you immediately cease from pursuing these measures which will harm the common and historical relations between Libya and Italy,” Bashagha added.
He warned, “those who waive the rights of Libyans and exploit our great nation at a time of difficulty will bear the legal and moral responsibility.”
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Moammar Gadaffi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December, and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, who led the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed a rival Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.