The Italian news agency Nova reported today, Thursday, that in the past few hours, rumors have spread within the Libyan oil sector regarding the possible resignation of the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation, Farhat Ben Gdara.
Nova indicated that rumors, especially on social media, suggest that Ben Gdara has submitted a resignation letter to the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, although there is no official confirmation from relevant authorities at the moment.
Nova reached out to Ahmed Jumaa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Oil and Gas, who stated that he is unaware of any resignation letter submitted by Ben Gdara.
Other sources close to the matter said the resignation was actually due to health issues Ben Gdara has been suffering from for a while. However, other sources suggest that Ben Gdara is facing difficulties in balancing the demands of the armed forces’ leader, Haftar, with the directives of Prime Minister Dbeibeh, making his position increasingly unsustainable, while the regional support he once enjoyed seems to have weakened.
The name of Mohamed Ben Shatwan, the current head of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company and a figure close to Saddam Haftar, one of the most influential sons of “the Marshal,” is being circulated as a potential temporary replacement for Ben Gdara, who frequently travels abroad for medical treatment. However, these may just be rumors, as Nova noted without finding any confirmation.
