Ibrahim Jadhran
Ibrahim Jadran (Arabic: إبراهيم الجضران; born 1981) is a self imposed Libyan militia leader from Ajdabiya in eastern Libya. Born 1981 in Ajdabiya[1] as the son of Sayyid Jidran,[2] Ibrahim was arrested in February 2005 for organizing an armed group to oust Muammar al-Qaddafi. After spending six years in Libya's Abu Salim prison with his four brothers, he was released from prison in 2011 and subsequently participated as a rebel commander in the 2011 Libyan revolution.[2]
In 2012, after the revolution, Jadhran was named a commander of the Petroleum Defense Guards, the government force protecting the national oil facilities.[3] Jadhran became dissatisfied with the actions of the central government, accusing it of corruption and incompetence, and demanded more autonomy for the eastern provinces that hold the rich oil fields.[4] He declared that he opposed the Muslim Brotherhood that held the central power in Tripoli,[3][5] while detractors tried to link him to jihadists.[3] He favors a federal relationship of the various provinces of Libya, where provinces would control their own resources, and the central government manages the military and foreign affairs.[3]
In 2013, Jadhran set up the Cyrenaica Political Bureau and secured control of eastern ports, namely Sidra, Ras Lanuf and Zueitina.[5] In August 2013, Jathran issued the “Ras Lanuf Declaration”, the declaration asks for the right to “govern our own affairs”.[3] By October 2013, Jathran's militia, the Cyrenaica Self-Defense Force, was estimated to number 17,500 men.[3]
In 2014, Jadhran attempted to sell oil excluding the central government. The MV Morning Glory was loaded with crude oil at Sidra and broke through a weak government blockade.[6] As a result, Ali Zeidan, the Prime Minister of Libya, was ousted by the parliament led by a Muslim Brotherhood coalition.[5] However, Jathran's success was short-lived. The US Ambassador, Deborah K. Jones declared Jadhran's actions to be a “theft from the Libyan people.” [5] At the behest of the Libyan government, US forces took control of the ship on March 16, 2014, making it unlikely that Jadhran can sell oil without the permission of the central government.[6]
On 10 September 2015 Ibrahim Jadhran accused the LNA of trying to assassinate him.[7]
In September 2017, after being released from a Libyan Prison in Nalut, Ibrahim reportedly arrived in Algeria.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Militiaman Jodran deplores Haftar's attempt to assassinate him | The Libya Observer". www.libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
Briefing his tribe following his safe arrival to his hometown of Ejdabia, Jodran said he embarked on a working visit to Tobruk in coordination of Al-Mibri family from Al-Obidat tribe.
- ^ a b Hill, Evan. "One family against Gaddafi". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved Apr 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Margaret Coker (2013-10-03). "Ex-Rebel, With Militia, Lays Claim to Libyan Oil Patch". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
- ^ "Libya : Rebel leader slams "corrupt government" for ports closure". The North Africa Post. 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
- ^ a b c d Chris Stephen (2014-03-15). "Partition of Libya looms as fight for oil sparks vicious new divide". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
- ^ a b David D Kirkpatrick (2014-03-17). "U.S. Navy SEALs Take Control of Diverted Oil Tanker". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
- ^ "Militiaman Jodran deplores Haftar's attempt to assassinate him | The Libya Observer". www.libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ Saada, Hana (Sep 10, 2017). "Libya's former head of Petroleum Facilities Guard in Algeria | DZ Breaking". Retrieved Apr 4, 2019.