Libya’s eastern-based Government has strongly condemned an armed assault on the Central Bank of Libya headquarters in Tripoli. In a statement issued Friday, the Parliament-designate government said the attack was carried out by a militia known as the General Support Forces, which is affiliated with the Tripoli-based Government under Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba.
According to the statement, the attackers stormed the Central Bank building with the intention of misappropriating public funds. The incident, the Government claims, caused extensive damage to banking systems and led to the destruction of vital infrastructure. Several vehicles belonging to bank staff were also reported stolen during the raid.
The statement accused Dbaiba’s government of deliberately concealing the incident in an attempt to evade legal responsibility. It described the silence of Tripoli-based authorities as “a calculated cover-up to avoid accountability and protect those involved in the crime.”
The eastern Government, led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, called on Libya’s Attorney General to immediately open a comprehensive investigation into the attack. It urged legal authorities to identify and prosecute all individuals who participated in the assault, including those who facilitated the operation.
The Government also warned that such actions severely undermine Libya’s financial sovereignty and threaten the stability of state institutions. It called for international condemnation of the incident and highlighted the need for robust legal measures to prevent a repeat of such violations.
This armed attack comes amid increasing tensions between rival authorities in Libya, with Tripoli witnessing violent clashes in recent days. The assault on the Central Bank is viewed as a serious escalation, further fuelling concerns about the country’s fragile security situation.
