TRIPOLI: The EU delegation and EU country missions in Libya stated on Friday they were gravely concerned regarding the deterioration of the situation in the African country. They stated that the coercion of the Tripoli-based High State Council members and central bank staff, the closure of oil fields, as well as disruptions in banking services were aggravating an already fragile situation in the country.
Crisis Over Control of Central Bank of Libya
The Financial Times cited Libya’s central bank Gov. Sadiq Al-Kabir as saying that he and other senior bank officials had been forced to leave Libya to “protect our lives” from potential assaults by armed men.
“Militias are terrifying and threatening bank staff and are sometimes kidnapping their children and relatives to force them to go to work,” Kabir told the Financial Times via phone. He also stated attempts by interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to replace him were unlawful and contravened UN negotiated agreements on control of the central bank.
The current crisis over the control of the Central Bank of Libya creates another level of instability in the African nation. This major oil producer is split between western and eastern factions.
Earlier, the UN Support Mission in Libya had called for the suspension of unilateral decisions, lifting force majeure on oil fields, halting escalations and use of force, and securing central bank employees.
