On 17 August, the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) General Authority for Telecommunications and Informatics issued a statement announcing the suspension of all activities by China’s Huawei company in Libya in order to ‘preserve Libyan national security and safeguard national sovereignty.’
It said Huawei had entered into illegal contracts with illegal entities within the state and had violated national laws under which only the General Authority for Telecommunications and Informatics can issue licences and permits in the sector. It concluded that all Huawei’s activities inside Libya are considered suspended immediately under their status is settled and any transactions or contracts concluded outside the legal frameworks approved by the Authority are considered null and void.
This move was prompted by the eastern authorities reportedly requesting a USD 198 million Letter of Credit (LC) from the CBL as a down payment on a USD 700 million contract with China’s Huawei company to build a mobile network in the eastern region, called Ozon.