On Thursday, the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) announced that Prime Minister Osama Hammad, appointed by the House of Representatives, has expressed readiness to meet with his rival in the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dbaiba, to promote national interest, reduce economic pressure on citizens, and support the implementation of critical reforms.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting at the Central Bank’s headquarters in Benghazi between CBL Governor Naji Issa, Deputy Governor Marai Al-Barassi, and Prime Minister Hammad.
Also present was Omar Tantoush, Chair of the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives. The meeting came just one day after Issa held similar discussions in Tripoli with Dbaiba and his government team.
In its statement, the Central Bank said both meetings focused on the economic challenges facing Libya and the urgent need to launch a joint package of financial, monetary, and trade reforms. Governor Issa emphasized the importance of national coordination, warning that the country’s fragile economy requires bold decisions and unified leadership to avoid a deeper crisis.
According to the Bank, both governments expressed willingness to cooperate in implementing the CBL’s proposed reforms. This includes advancing a unified national budget, improving exchange rate policies, protecting the value of the Libyan dinar, and managing public spending more efficiently.
The Benghazi meeting addressed fiscal coordination, state revenue strategies, and mechanisms for increasing financial stability. Both parties agreed on the need for continued collaboration between the Central Bank and both governments to ensure aligned monetary and fiscal policies.
The CBL described Hammad’s openness to a meeting with Dbaiba as a positive step toward rebuilding institutional unity and restarting dialogue between the rival administrations. The Bank signaled its commitment to remaining a neutral facilitator in Libya’s broader economic recovery.
