Libya’s Central Bank Resumes Operations After Kidnapped Official Released

Libya’s Central Bank (CBL) has resumed its operations after the safe return of Musaab Muslamm, the head of its information technology department, who was abducted from his home in Tripoli. The abduction, which occurred on Sunday by an unidentified group, had led the bank to halt all work until Mr. Muslamm was freed.

In a brief statement released on Monday afternoon, CBL confirmed that Mr. Muslamm had returned safely, allowing the bank to resume its normal functions. The central bank, crucial for managing Libya’s oil revenues, is the only internationally recognized institution handling the nation’s vital economic resources.

The kidnapping of Mr. Muslamm occurred just a week after the central bank faced a siege by armed men. According to reports from AFP, the armed group sought to force the resignation of the bank’s governor, Seddik al-Kabir. Governor al-Kabir, who has been in office since 2012, has faced ongoing criticism regarding the management of Libya’s oil wealth and the state budget.

Following the release of Mr. Muslamm, Governor al-Kabir met with the British ambassador to Libya, Martin Longden, to discuss the increasing threats to the security of the central bank, its employees, and its systems.

The incident highlights the ongoing instability in Libya, a nation divided between two rival governments in Tripoli and Benghazi, with the central bank caught in the midst of the country’s broader political and economic turmoil.