Libya’s central bank has suspended all operations following the kidnapping of its information technology director, Musab Msallem, in the capital, Tripoli. In a statement released on Sunday, the bank condemned the abduction, stating that Msallem was taken from his home by an “unidentified party” early Sunday morning. The bank also reported that other employees have received threats of kidnapping.
The central bank, a crucial institution in Libya’s economy, announced that it would not resume its operations until Msallem is safely released. The bank, although independent, serves as the sole internationally recognized depository for Libya’s oil revenues, a key economic resource for the war-torn country.
This incident follows a siege on the central bank by armed men last week, reportedly aiming to force the resignation of Governor Seddik al-Kabir, who has held the position since 2012. Al-Kabir has faced mounting criticism over his management of the country’s oil resources and state budget.
Libya has been in a state of chronic insecurity since the ousting and death of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country remains deeply divided, with two rival governments—one UN-recognized administration based in Tripoli, and another in the east, backed by warlord Gen Khalifa Haftar—engaged in a prolonged power struggle.
