Libyan Oil Minister Shokri Ghanem defects?

[Askari Kanzu]

Now it is confirmed!

Libyan Oil Minister Shokri Ghanem defects
By Askari Kanzu - JF, 17 May 2011.

Shokri Ghanem is said to have defected to Tunisia

(JF. 17 May 2011) - Rumours are abound both in Tripoli and in social media sites that Gaddafi's Oil Minister, Shokri Ghanem, has defected and is now in Tunisia. If this turns out to be true then it will be another major blow to Gaddafi's regime, which has recently come under heavy bombardment from NATO forces, aimed at disabling command and control centres.

On Monday, ICC Chief Prosecuter Moreno Ocampo formally asked judges to issue an arrest warrant for Muammar Gaddafi, and two other senior members of his embattled regime, for crimes against humanity. Gaddafi has however been quick to dismiss the ICC as a "baby of the European union" which was designed to prosecute African leaders. Khaled Kaim, Libya's deputy foreign minister, is quoted as saying: “The ICC is not important for us. We are not part of the Rome statute. We will not show any attention to the decision," according to media outlets.

This is not the first time that Ghanem's name is associsiated with resignation from Gaddafi's regime. In a leaked document by Wikileaks, published by The Telegraph, Shokri Ghanem is said to have contemplated resigning from his post already in 2008 due to some disagreements with one of Gaddafi's sons. The document alleges that Ghanem felt compelled to resign because National Security Adviser Muatassim al-Qadhafi, a son of Muammar al-Qadhafi, had approached him in late June with a request for $1.2 billion.

"A close friend of National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman Shukri Ghanem told us that Ghanem is under pressure to provide $1.2 billion in cash or oil shipments to National Security Adviser Muatassim al-Qadhafi (son of Muammar al-Qadhafi), and may seek to resign soon out of fear that Muatassim or his confederates could seek revenge if the funds are not forthcoming. Muatassim reportedly intended to use some of the funds to establish a military/security unit and to support unspecified security upgrades he wanted to make in his capacity as National Security Adviser" says a source as quoted by Wikileaks.

However, asked by journalists at Rixos Hotel about Shokri's alleged defection, government spokesman Musa Ibrahim denied, saying Shokri is still in Tripoli working.


Gaddafi Spokesman denies Al Arabiya report which had said that Shokri Ghanem, Gaddafi's oil minister had defected

 

[Askari Kanzu]

17 May 2011 Last updated at 17:20 GMT
Libya: Mystery over missing Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem

Mr Ghanem is a former prime minister

Libyan Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem is said to have left the country for Tunisia, amid uncertainty about the reasons for the reported visit. Tunisian officials say he crossed the border on Saturday to go to the island of Djerba. He was later reported to have left for an unknown destination.

The Libyan rebels say they do not know if Mr Ghanem has defected or not.

The Libyan government said he had been on official business in Tunisia, but had since had lost touch with Tripoli. "Shukri Ghanem has left Libya," a Tunisian official told AFP news agency. The official added that Mr Ghanem had gone to a hotel in Djerba on Saturday but "not tried to contact the Tunisian authorities".

However a staff member at the hotel told AFP that Mr Ghanem had checked out with his family early on Tuesday.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Tripoli had lost contact with him. Mr Ibrahim told the New York Times newspaper that the government's fight against rebels "doesn't depend on individuals, even if they are high-ranking officials".

Mr Ghanem is also the head of Libya's National Oil Corporation and a former prime minister.

A number of senior officials have abandoned the government of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi side the start of uprising in February - including Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, Interior Minister Abdul Fattah Younis, Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil, and a number of ambassadors.

-BBC

 

[AshaDii]

It was bound to happen and it is a real blow to Gadaffi although I don't think there was an alternative for Libyan Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem but to flee - for the way the situation is at present and future for Gadaffi is inevitably doomed... It is evident that Gadaffi, his son and the in law are just a starting list for ICC... that may explain why most Ministers are abandoning their positions...

 

[VUTA-NKUVUTE]

Waziri wa mafuta wa Libya,Shokri Ghanem,ameyakimbia mafuta lukuki yaliyopo nchini humo hasa katika majimbo ya Brega na Aldabiya.Waziri huyo,akitumia usafiri wa barabara,amekimbilia nchini Tunisia.Hatahivyo,pamoja na Waziri huyo kudai kuwa mambo ya NATO yamemshinda,Serikali ya Libya imedai Waziri huyo yupo katika ziara ya kikazi nchini Tunisia.Yaani Libya.............

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Factbox: Who is Libyan oil chief Shokri Ghanem?
Tue May 17, 2011 2:51pm EDT

(Reuters) - Shokri Ghanem, the chairman of Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC), has defected from Muammar Gaddafi's administration, security sources in neighboring Tunisia and Libyan rebels said on Tuesday.

Here are some facts about him:

* Ghanem, 68, had the high-profile job of representing Libya at OPEC meetings. He has been NOC chairman since 2006.

LIFE DETAILS:

* Ghanem was born in Tripoli in October 1942 and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Libya at Benghazi in 1963. He worked in government for the next 14 years, including at the NOC and at the oil ministry.

* During this period, he also studied at Boston University at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, gaining master's degrees in economics and in law and diplomacy before gaining a doctorate in international economics in 1975.

* He then served as chief economist and directory of energy studies at the Arab Development Institute in Libya, while also holding various academic positions in Libya and Britain.

A CAREER IN OIL:

* From 1993 to 2001, Ghanem was director of research at the OPEC secretariat in Vienna, also standing in for the secretary general at times.

* In 2001, Ghanem returned to Libya to serve as minister of economy and trade.

* In June 2003 the reform-minded Ghanem was named prime minister. He was credited with liberalizing the Libyan economy and accelerating the opening of the country to international petroleum investment.

* In March 2006, Ghanem was appointed chairman of the National Oil Corporation, giving him control over oil policy.

* In 2009, reports emerged that he had resigned as part of a turf war between reformers and a conservative old guard inside Libya's ruling elite. But weeks later, he was back at his post. "Reinstated, and no other comment," he told Reuters. No reason was given for his brief departure. There was relief among foreign investors at the return of a Western-friendly face at the head of NOC.

* Arab television stations said on at least two occasions after the revolt started against Gaddafi's rule that Ghanem had left the country, but he denied the reports, saying he was was still at work.

* In a March 2 interview with Reuters in Tripoli, Ghanem declined to comment on the defections of Libyan diplomats and other officials.

-- But he did say oil industry officials had not departed and that he had no plans to leave. "You see me. I am in my office. I am still coordinating the industry," he said.

Sources: Reuters/www.arabianoilandgas

(Writing by David Cutler; London Editorial Reference Unit)

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Libya silent on Ghanem fate


Libyan's National Oil Corp is remaining mum on the whereabouts of chairman Shokri Ghanem who is widely tipped to have defected the beleaguered North African country.

Eoin O'Cinneide
18 May 2011 13:05 GMT

Ghanem, Libya's effective oil minister, is widely reported to have crossed the border into Tunisia after turning his back on the regime of national leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Several people at Tripoli-based NOC have refused to comment on Ghanem's whereabouts when contacted by Upstream in the past two days with one on Tuesday saying simply that "he is not in today". An e-mail sent to the company seeking clarification on the issue has not been returned.

Several reports indicate Ghanem has made his way to the Tunisian island of Djera where he plans on leaving for an unidentified European country. Malta has proven a favourite destination of Libyan officials looking to skip Gaddafi-controlled Libya with former energy minister Omar Fathi bin Shatwan fleeing there in early April. However, Upstream understands that Ghanem has so far not reached Malta.

In an intriguing twist Guma el-Gamaty, the UK coordinator for Libya's rebel National Transitional Council, wrote in a posting on social media network Twitter earlier this week that one of Gaddafi's sons from his first marriage was receiving treatment at a hospital in Djera. Members of the son's family were with him and there was a heavy security presence, el-Gamaty claimed.

Published: 18 May 2011 13:05 GMT
-Upstreamonline.com

 

[NICK2275]

Soon gaddaf will be left alone-

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Soon gaddaf will be left alone-

You are right!

 

[Askari Kanzu]

"Ghanem is in Vienna - he has not defected" - Khalid Kiam, Deputy Foreign Minister




Khalid Kiam tells Sky News that the Oil 'Minister' Shokri Ghanem is in Vienna for 'oil meetings' but he has not defected. 'If he wants to defect he can make it public'.

Hawa jamaa uongo utawashinda!

 

[Nonda]

Libya's Ghanem may be on secret govt mission

LONDON (Reuters) - Top Libyan oil official Shokri Ghanem has not defected, contrary to widespread reports, and is secretly working for Muammar Gaddafi to maintain ties with big oil companies, sources at western firms said.

A Libyan opposition source and a source at a major international oil company said Ghanem, one of the most senior figures in Gaddafi's government, had invited representatives of oil companies to meet him last week in Tunisia, to discuss oil contracts.

Libya's Ghanem may be on secret govt mission | Top News | Reuters