TRIPOLI: The United Nations mission in Libya on Wednesday announced a compromise between the North African country’s rival powers aimed at resolving a crisis over its central bank.
“Following a new round of consultations facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) regarding the crisis at the Central Bank of Libya, representatives from the House of Representatives and the High Council of State reached compromise on appointing new leadership for the bank,” the mission said in a statement.
It said parliament and the High Council of State, which acts as a senate, initialled an agreement “on the procedures, criteria, and timelines for appointing a Governor, Deputy Governor, and Board of Directors” for the bank.
A signing ceremony is set take place Thursday, it said.
Libya is split between the UN-recognized government led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and the rival administration in the east backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
The country is struggling to recover from years of conflict after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
Tensions had been rising since early August when a group of men — some armed — laid siege to the bank demanding the removal of governor Seddik Al-Kabir, who later told the Financial Times he had fled the country.
On August 18, the central bank announced suspension of all operations following the abduction of its information technology chief. He was eventually released.
The UN has held talks with the rival powers to find a way out of the bank crisis which has threatened Libya’s vital oil income.
Kabir, in office since 2012, had been criticized for his management of oil revenues and budget, considered to be too favorable to Haftar.
Most of Libya’s revenue comes from its oil resources, with the country’s production mainly in the east.
Output recently returned to 1.2 million barrels per day, whereas under Qaddafi it was between 1.5 million bpd and 1.6 million bpd.
UN announces deal in Libya central bank crisis
https://arab.news/gh7ek
UN announces deal in Libya central bank crisis
- A signing ceremony is set take place Thursday
- On August 18, the central bank announced suspension of all operations following the abduction of its information technology chief
UAE closes embassy in Tehran, withdraws diplomatic staff from Iran
- UAE foreign ministry said Iranian strikes represented serious and irresponsible escalation
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates closed its embassy in Tehran on Sunday and has withdrawn its ambassador and all diplomatic staff from Iran following Iranian missile strikes targeting the Gulf country.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision came in response to what it described as “blatant Iranian missile attacks” on Emirati territory.
The ministry said the strikes targeted civilian sites, including residential areas, airports, ports and service facilities, and represented a serious and irresponsible escalation.
“These hostile attacks constitute a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” the statement said.
The ministry added that the move reflects the UAE’s “firm and unwavering stance against any aggression” that threatens its security and sovereignty. It accused Iran of continued hostile and provocative conduct that undermines de-escalation efforts and pushes the region toward a dangerous trajectory, threatening regional and international peace, energy security and global economic stability.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have faced hundreds of missile and drone attacks since Saturday, as Tehran retaliates against US-Israeli airstrikes.
While the majority of the projectiles have reportedly been intercepted, there have been reports of casualties and damage in several areas of both cities.
