The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has denied handing over its administration to the council appointed by the Presidential Council, stating that it will continue to suspend its operations until the Presidential Council’s decisions are revoked.
In a statement, the Central Bank firmly rejected claims circulating on social media regarding a document labeled as Statement No. 2, allegedly issued by a handover committee appointed by the Presidential Council. The bank reiterated its stance from a previous statement, asserting that the Presidential Council’s actions were unauthorised, illegal, and invalid.
The Central Bank also confirmed that it will maintain the suspension of its employees’ work until the Presidential Council’s decisions are annulled, while continuing to perform tasks related to its systems and electronic services in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, the handover committee appointed by the Presidential Council announced that the new council is set to begin managing the Central Bank from Saturday. The committee stated that it had completed full coordination with all relevant security agencies to ensure a smooth transition, following their compliance with the Presidential Council’s decisions.
On Thursday, Libyan Parliament Speaker Ageela Saleh met with Stephanie Khouri, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), in Al-Qubbah to discuss key issues surrounding Libya’s ongoing political and economic challenges.
Central to their talks was the need to stabilize the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) and ensure it remains functional and insulated from the country’s political strife.
Both Ageela Saleh and Khouri underscored the urgency of forming a unified Board of Directors for the Central Bank, per Libya’s legal frameworks. This step is seen as crucial to maintaining the integrity of Libya’s most important financial institution amidst the ongoing division.
The discussions also addressed the broader political situation in Libya, with both parties emphasizing the importance of renewing efforts to unify the country’s executive authority. They called for intensified dialogue among all factions to reach a consensus that would lead to the formation of a single, cohesive government. Such a government would be tasked with organizing the long-awaited presidential and parliamentary elections, which are critical to Libya’s future stability.
Ageela Saleh reaffirmed the Libyan Parliament’s commitment to working closely with the United Nations and the international community. He highlighted the Parliament’s adherence to the political agreement and the outcomes of the 6+6 Committee, stressing that all efforts should be focused on ending the political division in Libya and achieving the Libyan people’s aspiration for democratic elections.
Stephanie Khouri expressed her continued commitment to fostering dialogue and rebuilding trust between Libya’s various factions. She emphasized the importance of bringing different sides closer together as a key step toward achieving a lasting political solution in the country.
