Benghazi’s commercial port officially reopened on Sunday (October 1, 2017) after a three-year closure due to fighting between rival factions in the east Libyan city, according to Reuters.
To mark the opening, Abdullah al-Thinni, Prime Minister of a government based in the east, arrived on board a tanker sent from the eastern city of Tobruk.
The port does not export oil, but imports gas and some petroleum products as well as general cargo.
Port manager Abdulazim Al-Abbar told Reuters: “Today Benghazi port opened and a tanker from Tobruk entered as a message to the world that the port is safe and we are ready to receive tankers.
“Until now we have not received notification of tankers arriving for exports and imports – for now we are starting up and waiting.”
The port closed in 2014 due to the conflict between forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar and an alliance of Islamists and other opponents.
Haftar declared victory in early July, though isolated skirmishes continued.
