Ageela Saleh, Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives, has confirmed that no tax is currently imposed on foreign currency transactions by Parliament, clarifying widespread confusion over charges applied to foreign exchange operations.
Saleh stated that the decision issued by the House of Representatives in 2024 to impose a tax on foreign currency was temporary and limited to one year, and automatically expired at the end of 2024.
“There is no tax imposed by the House of Representatives on foreign currency transactions during 2025,” Saleh stressed.
Fees Are Central Bank Decisions, Not Parliamentary Taxes
The Libyan parliament speaker explained that any amounts currently collected on the purchase or use of foreign currency are fees approved by the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya, not taxes enacted by Parliament.
He emphasized that the House of Representatives bears no responsibility for these fees, noting that Parliament’s role was confined solely to the temporary 2024 decision.
“The House of Representatives and its members are not concerned with these fees and do not bear responsibility for them,” Saleh said, reiterating that the parliamentary decision had a clearly defined one-year duration.
Saleh added that this clarification aims to eliminate public confusion and clearly distinguish between measures issued by the legislature and those falling under the authority of other institutions.
He also noted that this matter is well known among relevant authorities, including the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, who is fully aware that the foreign currency tax expired at the end of 2024.
Call for Transparency Over Plane Crash Investigation
In a separate statement, Aguila Saleh called on the Libyan Attorney General to inform the House of Representatives of the results of the ongoing investigation into the plane crash that killed the late Mohamed Al-Haddad, Chief of Staff under the Government of National Unity, along with several companions.
Saleh said Parliament is awaiting official clarification regarding the circumstances of the tragic incident and the identification of any responsible parties, should they exist.
He stressed that revealing the facts to the public is essential for strengthening transparency and reinforcing trust in state institutions, particularly given the sensitivity of the incident and the widespread questions it has raised.