General Khalifa Haftar’s eight-month oil blockade finally started to hit where it hurts: in his own stronghold in Libya’s eastern region.

Eastern Libya has recently experienced a surge in power cuts as a direct result of the country’s inability to export oil. Essentially reduced output from key oilfields also constrained the production of gas which was supplying eastern power plants. Consequently, Mr Haftar on 18 August decided to relax the blockade as a way of reducing the pressure he has been feeling at home in the east. (CONTINUED - 832 WORDS)