عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Libya Central Bank Governor, Other Bankers Flee to Avoid Militias

A picture shows a view of Libya's Central Bank headquarters in Tripoli on August 27, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
A picture shows a view of Libya's Central Bank headquarters in Tripoli on August 27, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
TT
TT

Libya Central Bank Governor, Other Bankers Flee to Avoid Militias

A picture shows a view of Libya's Central Bank headquarters in Tripoli on August 27, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
A picture shows a view of Libya's Central Bank headquarters in Tripoli on August 27, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

Libya's central bank governor Sadiq al-Kabir said he and other senior bank staff had been forced to leave the country to "protect our lives" from potential attacks by armed militia, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
"Militias are threatening and terrifying bank staff and are sometimes abducting their children and relatives to force them to go to work," Kabir told the newspaper via telephone.
He also said attempts by interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah to replace him were illegal, and contravened UN negotiated accords on control of the central bank.
The crisis over the control of the Central Bank of Libya creates yet another level of instability in the oil producing country.
The UN Support Mission in Libya early this week called for the suspension of unilateral decisions, the lifting of force majeure on oil fields, the halting of escalations and use of force, and the protection of central bank employees.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Egypt-Somalia Military Cooperation Escalates Tensions with Ethiopia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)
TT
TT

Egypt-Somalia Military Cooperation Escalates Tensions with Ethiopia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)

After Somalia announced the arrival of Egyptian military equipment and delegations, Ethiopia, which has ongoing tensions with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), voiced concern and hinted it “will not stand by.”

Ethiopian state media reported troop movements along the Somali border, raising fears of possible consequences, although Egypt has yet to officially respond.

Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that sending Egyptian forces to Somalia could “increase tensions” with Ethiopia but predicted that any fallout would likely be diplomatic, not military.

Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nebiat Getachew expressed concerns on Wednesday, saying Ethiopia is worried about the transition of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to a new peace support mission without addressing Ethiopia’s concerns.

He warned that this could “pose risks to the region.”

Ethiopia also stated it “cannot remain passive while other actors take actions that might destabilize the region” and said it is closely monitoring developments that could threaten its national security.

This follows statements by Somalia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Ali Abdi Aware, affirming that Egyptian military equipment and delegations have started arriving in Mogadishu as part of Egypt’s participation in peacekeeping forces.

The Somali ambassador called this step “important and the first practical move” to implement the results of the recent summit between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo on August 14.

The summit led to the signing of a joint defense agreement between the two countries.

Egypt is preparing to join the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace the current African Union mission by January 2025, according to the Somali ambassador.

Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry criticized this move, arguing that “instead of continuing peace talks in Türkiye, which have made progress, the Somali government is working with outside parties to destabilize the region and increase tensions.”

The ministry warned of potential “serious consequences.”