Arab Contractors Says Not Halted Operations in Libya, Investments Exceed $100mn

Arab Contractors Company (AC) has not suspended its operations in conflict-torn Libya, vice chairman Sayed Farouk asserted to Amwal Al Ghad.

The ongoing conflict in Libya as militant fighting intensifies, has led thousands of Egyptian nationals to flee the country.

Farouk stated that Arab Contractors’ projects mostly lie in the northern areas of Libya, away from the current heavy fighting dominating Tripoli and Benghazi.

The company is closely following up the situation in Libya, he added.

If the current fighting is intensified, Arab Contractors will have to shut down operations and flew staff to safety, the Egyptian official noted.

In Libya, AC is running investments worth around US$100 million, currently implementing infrastructure projects.

Heavy fighting has dominated Tripoli and Benghazi for the past three weeks, with more than 77 killed in clashes between Islamist militias and Libyan Special Forces in the eastern city of Benghazi, according to the Libyan health ministry.

A standoff between rival militias at the Tripoli Airport led to its closure since 13 July and prompted the evacuation of the United Nation’s staff from the country shortly afterwards.

Violence has repeatedly surged and died down in Libya after the overthrow of former president Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed by militants in October 2011. However, the violence drastically escalated in 2014 when retired General Khalifa Haftar launched a campaign in May to root out “terrorism” in the coastal city of Benghazi.

Around 1.6 million Egyptians reside in Libya, a large number of them include workers, according to Mohammed Fayez Jibril, Libya’s ambassador to Egypt.

Leave a comment