Central Bank of Libya halts operations following abduction of senior official

The Central Bank of Libya announced on Sunday that it is "suspending all operations" after Musab Msallem, its head of information technology, was abducted in Tripoli, according to numerous news reports.

According to the bank’s statement, Msallem was kidnapped from his home by an unidentified group earlier that morning. The bank declared that operations would not resume until Msallem is safely released, citing threats against other executives as well.

This incident follows an attempted siege on the bank's Tripoli headquarters the previous week, reportedly aimed at forcing the resignation of the bank’s governor, Seddik al-Kabir.

According to The Guardian, U.S. special envoy Richard Norland condemned efforts to replace Kabir, warning that such actions could jeopardize Libya's access to international financial markets. Norland emphasized that the ongoing conflict in Tripoli underscores the broader political instability in Libya.

The UN support mission also acknowledged the bank's crucial role in maintaining financial stability in the country.