The crisis at Libya’s Central Bank has intensified as the House of Representatives and the State Council joined the bank in rejecting the Presidential Council’s decision to appoint a new administration, calling the move “unauthorized.” This development coincides with the Joint Military Commission’s meeting in Sirte.
A source from the Presidential Council told local media that the transfer of the bank’s administration occurred “smoothly and peacefully” on Sunday afternoon. However, video footage aired by local media showed security personnel preventing members of the handover committee from entering the bank, demanding legal proof from the judiciary or the Attorney General to validate their claim.
Mohamed Al-Shukri, appointed by the Presidential Council as the new governor, replacing Sadiq Al-Kabir, dismissed the attempt as “nonsense” and reiterated that he would not accept the position unless there was agreement between the House of Representatives and the State Council according to the political agreement.
In contrast, the Central Bank denied that the handover process had taken place and confirmed that its headquarters remains closed. Incumbent Governor Sadiq Al-Kabir filed a formal complaint with Attorney General Sadiq Al-Sour on Sunday, alleging an “attempted break-in” by a group accompanying the so-called handover committee formed by the Presidential Council, claiming to enforce “illegal decisions.”
The bank emphasized that as a sovereign public institution under the legislative authority, the Presidential Council’s decisions are “unauthorized” and invalidated by the House of Representatives. The bank called for necessary legal actions and warned that this act poses a “serious threat” to the country’s most important financial institution, with potential negative consequences domestically and internationally. The bank held the Presidential Council and those involved fully responsible for the situation.
