Libya’s deepening political tensions came into sharper focus on Thursday after unidentified individuals raided the headquarters of the country’s central bank in Tripoli, raising fresh concerns over the security and independence of the financial institution.
The raid occurred hours after parliament announced that it had accepted, in principle, the resignation of Central Bank Governor Naji Issa and named board member Fauzi Abokhzam as interim head pending a final decision.
In a statement, the central bank said the incident happened while Issa was away from the headquarters. It held all parties involved responsible and specifically questioned the role of the defence ministry, which it said was responsible for protecting the bank’s premises.
The bank, however, did not provide details about the identities of those behind the raid or the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Tripoli-based government had yet to comment.
The development comes more than two months after Issa first tendered his resignation in August, a move parliament initially rejected. The reasons behind his decision to step down remain unclear.
Libya has remained politically divided since the 2011 overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, with a United Nations-recognised government based in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
The latest parliamentary decision also comes amid changes in the legislature’s leadership. Earlier this month, a new speaker assumed office in parliament, which operates from the eastern city of Benghazi under Haftar’s control.
Issa was appointed central bank governor by parliament in 2024 following a prolonged political dispute that disrupted oil production and intensified the country’s financial crisis.
The raid and the uncertainty surrounding the bank’s leadership have renewed questions about the institution’s security and its ability to operate independently amid Libya’s persistent political divisions.
