Libya’s central bank halts operations after director kidnapped

• Libya’s central bank halts operations after director kidnapped
• The bank says Musab Msallem was taken from his home by an unknown group, and other employees have also faced kidnapping threats
• The bank has vowed not to resume operations until Msallem is released

Libya’s central bank halts operations after director kidnapped

Libya’s central bank has halted all operations following the kidnapping of its IT director, Musab Msallem, in Tripoli. The bank condemned the abduction, stating that Msallem was taken from his home by an unknown group, and other employees have also faced kidnapping threats.

The bank, which plays a crucial role as the sole internationally recognised depository for Libya’s oil revenues, has vowed not to resume operations until Msallem is released.

This incident follows a recent siege of the bank by armed men, reportedly aimed at forcing the resignation of the bank’s governor, Seddik al-Kabir, who has been criticised for his handling of oil revenues and the state budget.

Libya has struggled with instability since the 2011 ousting of Muammar Gaddafi, with the country now divided between two rival governments in Tripoli and Benghazi.

The drums of war are growing louder in #Libya, with tensions escalating daily in the capital, #Tripoli. The risk of a wider conflict is on the rise as power struggles intensify.

The control of Tripoli and the Central Bank’s assets have always been central to nationwide… https://t.co/RCv59hiUZS pic.twitter.com/euUgtISQkW

— Mohamed Eljarh (@Eljarh) August 18, 2024