Libya’s Attorney General’s Office has uncovered a large-scale case of civil registry fraud that led to 225 foreign nationals illegally obtaining Libyan national identification numbers, raising fresh concerns over the integrity of citizenship records and public administration.
In a statement published on its official Facebook page, the Attorney General’s Office said the individuals involved were foreign nationals holding Malian citizenship who were unlawfully registered as Libyan citizens in the central regions of Hon and Sokna. The case forms part of wider investigations into manipulation of civil status data and its implications for citizenship rights.
Prosecutors explained that investigators identified irregularities in 61 family records that had been transferred from the Ubari Civil Registry Office to the Hon and Sokna offices. These transfers triggered suspicion and prompted an expanded inquiry into the legality of the procedures used.
The investigation revealed that the transferred records did not legally belong to the national civil registry system. This administrative manipulation enabled the 225 foreign nationals to obtain Libyan national numbers, issue Libyan passports, and access state grants reserved exclusively for Libyan citizens.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, some of those involved were also able to secure public sector jobs and benefit from additional privileges tied to Libyan citizenship, posing serious legal and financial consequences for the state.
In response, prosecutors ordered the immediate suspension of all administrative documents issued on the basis of the fraudulent registrations. Legal proceedings have also been launched against officials suspected of facilitating or failing to prevent the violations.
The Attorney General’s Office stressed that the investigation reflects its commitment to protecting Libyan citizenship, safeguarding public funds, and addressing systemic abuses within civil registry institutions. Authorities said further measures would follow as inquiries continue, signalling a tougher stance against fraud affecting national identity and state resources.
