Libya’s Audit Bureau announced the suspension of its activities after an armed intervention

The institution overseeing public funds announced the suspension on October 21, following an attempt to impose a contested deputy at its headquarters in Tripoli. The EU and the UN called for the withdrawal of armed individuals and respect for legal procedures. The UN warning about possible sanctions does not constitute the adoption of new measures.

Libya’s Audit Bureau announced on October 21 that it was suspending its activities until further notice after armed individuals entered its headquarters in Tripoli in an attempt to impose a deputy of the leadership. The European Union Delegation and the diplomatic missions of EU member states in Libya condemned the incident on October 22 and called for the withdrawal of the armed individuals. The UN warned that the use of force threatens the independence of the institution overseeing the use of public funds.

In brief
Libya’s Audit Bureau announced on October 21 that it was suspending its activities after armed individuals entered its headquarters in Tripoli in an attempt to impose a contested deputy.

The institution made the resumption of work conditional on removing the causes of the suspension and restoring security, without setting a date.

The EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of member states called for the withdrawal of the armed individuals and for the dispute to be resolved through legal procedures.

The UN warned that those responsible for attacks on state institutions risk individual sanctions. The statement did not announce new sanctions over the incident.

The dispute involves the House of Representatives and the High Council of State; pressure on the Bureau threatens independent oversight of the use of public funds.

In the statement reproduced by the Libyan News Agency, LANA, the Bureau said the intervention had endangered employees and made it impossible to carry out its duties safely. The institution linked the resumption of activities to removing the causes of the suspension and restoring a safe working environment, without setting a date. The Bureau said the appointment the armed individuals were attempting to impose had no legal basis.

The European position, reported by LANA, calls for an end to any armed presence or coercive action affecting the Bureau’s work and for the headquarters to be vacated without delay. The EU Delegation and the missions of member states called for disputes over the leadership of Libya’s sovereign institutions to be resolved through the applicable legal and institutional procedures, in accordance with Libyan law and the principles of the Libyan Political Agreement.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, had condemned the use of force and intimidation to install a deputy whose appointment was being contested as early as October 21. The mission called for the immediate withdrawal of armed personnel and warned that those responsible for attacks on state institutions risk individual sanctions under Security Council resolutions. The statement constitutes a warning and does not announce the adoption of new sanctions over this incident.

The dispute over the appointment involves the House of Representatives and the High Council of State. The leadership of the House said, in a statement dated October 21 and reported by LANA, that the unilateral appointment of a deputy by the High Council violated the agreements between the two bodies concerning leadership positions in sovereign institutions. It called on other institutions not to act on the appointment and supported continued coordination to unify the state structures. The challenge to the appointment represents the position of the House leadership and does not amount to a court ruling.

The stakes go beyond filling a position. The Audit Bureau examines the management of public funds, while UNSMIL warns that changing the leadership through coercion would undermine the institution’s ability to independently oversee state resources and public confidence in that oversight. Both the UN reaction and the European position call for protecting the institution from armed pressure and resolving the dispute through legal procedures.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/news/biroul-de-audit-din-libia-isi-suspenda-activitatea-dupa-o-interventie-armata-iar-ue-cere-retragerea-persoanelor-inarmate