Libya: Central Bank director kidnapped, shuts operations
By DL News
Published
1 min read
The bank also reported that other staff members have received threats of kidnapping.
Libya's central bank has halted all operations following the kidnapping of a senior official in Tripoli. The bank condemned the abduction of Musab Msallem, its director of information technology, who was taken from his home by an "unknown group" on Sunday morning.
The bank also reported that other staff members have received threats of kidnapping.
In response, the central bank, which serves as the sole internationally recognized institution for handling Libya's oil revenue, announced that it will not resume operations until Msallem is safely released. Libya, which has been embroiled in conflict between rival governments in Tripoli and Benghazi for years, relies heavily on these oil revenues.
This incident follows an armed siege at the bank's headquarters last week, allegedly aimed at forcing the resignation of the bank's governor, Seddik al-Kabir. Al-Kabir, who has held his position since 2012, has been criticized for his handling of the country’s oil wealth and state finances.
Since the 2011 overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the nation has struggled with ongoing instability, divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a competing administration in the east, supported by warlord General Khalifa Haftar.
