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The Jerusalem Post

Libya central bank governor flees in fear for his life, FT says

 
 FILE PHOTO: Governor of Central Bank of Libya, Siddiq al-Kabir gestures during an interview with Reuters in Tripoli, Libya September 1, 2021. Picture taken September 1, 2021.  (photo credit: REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed/File Photo)
FILE PHOTO: Governor of Central Bank of Libya, Siddiq al-Kabir gestures during an interview with Reuters in Tripoli, Libya September 1, 2021. Picture taken September 1, 2021.
(photo credit: REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed/File Photo)

The crisis over the control of the Central Bank of Libya creates yet another level of instability in the country, a major oil producer.

Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir said he and other senior bank staff had been forced to leave the country to "protect out lives" from potential attacks by armed militia, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

"Militias are threatening and terrifying bank staff and are sometimes abducting their children and relatives to force them to go to work," Kabir told the newspaper via telephone.

He also said attempts by interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah to replace him were illegal, and contravened U.N. negotiated accords on control of the central bank.

The crisis over the control of the Central Bank of Libya creates yet another level of instability in the country, a major oil producer that is split between eastern and western factions that have drawn backing from Turkey and Russia.

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 A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024.  (credit: REUTERS/Aymen Sahli)
A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Aymen Sahli)

UN response

The UN Support Mission in Libya early this week called for the suspension of unilateral decisions, the lifting of force majeure on oil fields, the halting of escalations and use of force, and the protection of central bank employees.

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