Who will win the struggle for leadership at Libya’s Ministry of Oil & Gas?

In early June, Mohamed Aoun was said to be reinstated as Oil & Gas Minister by the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) – Resolution No. 492/2024 – with the approval of Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba. However, he has appealed to the ACA for urgent intervention so as to enable him to assume his duties as the acting Oil & Gas Minister Khalifa Abdulsadek continues to occupy his seat.

A closer look

Our previous Energy Insights reporting highlighted the challenges brought by a potential return of Mohamed Aoun to the Ministry of Oil and Gas. In addition to making the fate of the NC7 area deal or the new round of licensing for exploration activities unpredictable, it was argued that the end of Aoun’s suspension would bring uncertainty to the oil and gas sector’s governance.

This is exactly what is happening now as his temporary replacement, Khalifa Abdulsadek, continues to “assume the minister’s powers and issue decisions in the capacity of the designated Minister of Oil, creating conflict and duplication of decisions,” as per Mohamed Aoun’s letter to the ACA. This situation shows that the decision to reinstate Aoun, following the dismissal of his case, was far from consensual.