Libyan Attorney General announced the discovery of 598 forged Libyan national numbers in the Sirte area, south of the country, after an investigation uncovered serious violations inside the Civil Registry Office in Sirte Central.
In an official statement, the Attorney General’s Office said the falsified national numbers were unlawfully issued to foreign nationals and later used to obtain full Libyan citizenship rights. The case has raised fresh concerns over the integrity of Libya’s civil registry system and the risks such violations pose to the country’s legal, economic and political order.
According to investigators, the irregularities stemmed from grave failures in managing the national data system at the registry office. These failures led to manipulated family records and forged personal data, allowing 598 individuals who are not Libyan citizens to secure official documents and exercise rights reserved for nationals under Libyan law.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed that all national numbers linked to the case have been immediately suspended. Authorities have also begun a comprehensive review of related administrative transactions to limit the wider impact of the fraud and prevent further misuse of state records.
Legal proceedings are now underway to bring criminal charges against all those involved in the forgery, including public officials suspected of facilitating or ignoring the violations. The statement stressed that accountability would be pursued without exception, in line with existing laws governing public records and state institutions.
The case highlights ongoing challenges facing Libya’s civil institutions, particularly in safeguarding sensitive population data amid years of political division and weak oversight. Officials warned that tampering with citizenship records threatens national security, public trust and fair access to services, including voting, employment and social benefits.
The Attorney General reiterated that protecting the civil registry is a national priority, pledging continued investigations to secure public databases and restore confidence in state systems. The office also urged relevant authorities to strengthen internal controls and prevent similar breaches in the future.
