The Libyan Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohammed Oun, called on the Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to cancel his order that said no conferences or press meetings should be held without his official permission.

Oun's remarks came in response to Dbeibah's instructions to his government ministers not to talk to the media and press without his official permission. The decision came in a letter from the Minister of State for Prime Minister Affairs, Adel Jumaa.

He stressed that the importance of the Ministry of Oil and Gas for citizens and those who follow economic affairs makes it a subject of attention for media professionals, adding that they always receive requests from various media agencies to clarify some issues or provide some clarifications that are a focus of attention for every follower of public affairs locally and internationally.

Oun said that Libya's oil position as a member of many international oil organizations necessitates that it constantly communicates with them to express their opinion regarding the global oil industry.

He recalled Dbeibah's own calls in several meetings for the necessity of allowing ministers to talk to the media to clarify what the ministries are doing and end any confusion or misunderstanding regarding the government's work, citing Dbeibah's invitation to the ministers to respond to the Audit Bureau's report.

Oun also said the fact that the government spokesman's talk to the press about the issue of Hess’s concession prompted the local and international press to contact him in order to get more clarifications, adding that the issue is relevant to his ministry’s tasks, and it requires a response without waiting for official permission.

He noted that one of the components of the modern administration is the adoption of transparency and freedom of opinion and expression, which urged them to give explanations and details about some of the activities that affect the rights of Libyans, especially since they are not among the top-secret acts and a national security issue.