Libya Lawmakers Defy Abductions to Swear In Rival Government

(Bloomberg) -- Libya's parliament swore in a new government even after two of the proposed ministers were kidnapped in a failed attempt to stall the move, as an escalating standoff risks reigniting conflict in the OPEC member.

The incoming foreign affairs and culture ministers were seized by gunmen while en route to the Thursday ceremony in the eastern city of Tobruk, according to a statement from the office of Fathi Bashagha, the premier backed by Libya's parliament to replace incumbent Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's administration. Dbeibah rejects the decision to oust him.

Bashagha accused Dbeibah of ordering the closure of Libyan airspace to prevent travel to Tobruk and said the “same parties” were behind the kidnappings.

Lawmakers argue that Dbeibah's mandate expired after the North African country failed to hold presidential elections in December as planned. He says he'll only step down after a vote takes place, sparking fears that Libya may split again into dueling administrations, as it did for years following 2014 until a fragile United Nations-backed reconciliation.

There are already signs the crisis could be spilling into Libya's vital oil industry. Production at the biggest field, Sharara, was halted after an unknown group shut down one of its main valves, cutting about 290,000 barrels a day from nationwide output that's been running at some 1.2 million daily barrels.

Libya has Africa's biggest oil reserves, and energy production has often been at the heart of the political conflict, with armed groups or protesters periodically shutting down facilities to press demands.

The state-run National Oil Corp. also said exports from six seaports were being stopped until Saturday because of bad weather. The energy minister, who has been at odds with the NOC over the past year, called the step unwarranted and a “violation of national security.” Protesters earlier in the day were demanding the shutdown of Zuetina, one of the terminals.

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Bashagha, who was security chief for the government based in the capital Tripoli when the country was divided, has insisted the transition will be peaceful and lawful. But events can spiral quickly in Libya, where myriad militias that emerged amid the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of dictator Moammar Al Qaddafi wield much of the power.

The UN secretary-general has expressed concern over reports that this week's parliamentary vote to confirm the new government “fell short of the expected standards of transparency and procedures” and included acts of intimidation before the session.

The designated economy and trade minister resigned before Thursday's ceremony, Libyan channel 218 TV reported.

Dbeibah condemned the assembly's move and said he'd sent his plan for parliamentary elections on June 30 to the UN. That vote will go ahead “whatever the challenges and circumstances,” he said in a statement.

He's also in charge of defense issues in his government and in a March 1 statement warned military and paramilitary units against making any movements without permission, media outlet Libya Al Ahrar reported Thursday.

“Bashagha may have support from the Libyan parliament, but to displace Dbeibah as prime minister he will need to win international recognition and establish himself physically in the capital,” said Hamish Kinnear, an analyst at Verisk Maplecroft.

“Given that the Dbeibah government warned against any attempt to use force to occupy government buildings, there is now the prospect of inter-militia conflict in Tripoli as armed groups loyal to Bashagha and Dbeibah battle for control,” he said.