Libya’s House of Representatives has strongly condemned what it described as attempts by the government whose mandate has expired to undermine the country’s sovereign resources, warning that such actions carry serious economic, legal, and political consequences.
In a joint statement, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives denounced moves by the outgoing Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdulhamid Dbaiba to sign long-term contracts affecting Libya’s sovereign assets.
The committees said these deals involve granting control over free economic zones and significant shares of oil and natural resources to foreign companies, including Qatari and Italian firms, under arrangements marred by corruption, lack of transparency, and political exploitation.
The statement stressed that such actions constitute a clear violation of Libya’s Constitutional Declaration, particularly its Seventh Amendment, which imposes strict limits on any commitments that affect sovereign resources.
According to the committees, these restrictions exist because of the long-term impact such agreements would have on the national economy and the rights of future generations.
Lawmakers also pointed out that the contracts contradict existing laws and binding decisions that prohibit any government from disposing of or committing strategic resources before the formation of a government elected by the Libyan people. They specifically cited Decision No. 44 of 2013, which bars the signing of agreements related to the exploitation of strategic resources without explicit authorization from the legislative authority.
The committees warned that some foreign states are seeking to take advantage of Libya’s current political fragmentation to secure access to its wealth under unfair terms, describing this as a direct threat to national sovereignty.
They emphasized that such practices would not be forgotten and would remain part of Libya’s historical record, remembered by future generations as violations of the public trust.
