ALBAWABA - The Central Bank of Libya announced suspending all operations following the abduction of the head of information technology at the bank, Musab Msallem.
The bank stated that it would "not resume operations" until Msallem was released and that other executives were also "threatened with abduction". It demanded an "end to these practices" and condemned "unlawful parties" that "threaten the safety of its employees and the continuity of the banking sector's work".
The kidnapping occurred a week after armed militants besieged the central bank's offices in Tripoli. Local media said that this was an attempt to compel the bank's governor, Seddik al-Kabir, to quit.
Richard Norland, the US ambassador and special envoy for Libya, called attempts to depose Kabir "unacceptable," saying that removing him "by force could result in Libya losing access to international financial markets".
In a post on X, Norland stated that the conflict in Tripoli "highlights the ongoing risks posed by the political stalemate in Libya".
Following the siege, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) stated that the bank was crucial to the country's financial stability.
Since taking office in 2012, Kabir has received criticism for his administration of Libya's oil resources and the national budget, especially from officials close to Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah.
