On 21 October, masked armed men entered the Audit Bureau’s primary headquarters in the Abumishmasha area of Tripoli, reportedly intimidating employees and damaging offices and documents. Staff subsequently evacuated the premises and suspended work in protest. Informed sources report that it was armed elements linked to the 444 Brigade, led by Military Intelligence Director Mahmoud Hamza, who were behind the incident. Hamza was attempting to appoint Anwar al-Hawsh as the Deputy Head of the Audit Bureau.
A letter from High State Council (HSC) head Muhammed Takala to Anwar al-Hawsh dated 19 October circulated online in which Takala appointed al-Hawsh to the position in a temporary capacity ‘until an agreement is reached with the House of Representatives regarding the appointment of heads and deputies of sovereign positions and the completion of the relevant legal procedure’. Takala was reportedly pressured by Hamza to make the appointment.
However, several HSC members representing southern constituencies rejected Takala’s unilateral appointment of al-Hawsh to the Audit Bureau, stressing it did not adhere to the necessary legal controls and institutional procedures. In addition, HSC First Deputy Head Naji Mukhtar stated that the disputed correspondence had not been presented to the HSC’s leadership through established procedures and should carry no legal effect.
Later the same day, the Audit Bureau announced it had suspended operations at all its branches until further notice after the storming of its headquarters, describing the incident as an attempt to impose a deputy head without a legal basis. It stressed that correspondence from the House of Representatives (HoR) and the High State Council (HSC) had confirmed this lack of legal basis. It said work would resume only after the reasons for the suspension had been addressed and safe conditions had been restored to allow staff to perform their duties.
The HoR Presidency issued a statement affirming that the appointment of Audit Bureau Deputy by the HSC alone ‘constitutes a clear violation of the agreements between the two councils regarding sovereign positions.’ It emphasized that this unilateral action is contrary to the spirit of consensus, and urged all relevant parties not to recognize or deal with it. The HoR also affirmed its continued coordination with the HSC to agree on clear mechanisms for unifying these institutions in accordance with the common understandings between the two councils.
Neither the Government of National Unity (GNU) nor the Presidential Council (PC) formally commented on the incident.
On 23 October, the Audit Bureau denied the validity of a post circulating on social media instructing employees to return to work on 25 October, stressing that the post was forged and fabricated, and was not issued by the official departments or offices of the Bureau. It stressed that any decisions or instructions regarding the date of resuming work will be announced through its official platforms and channels, ensuring that correct information reaches employees and concerned parties.
On 26 October, Audit Bureau head Khaled Shakshak held meetings with UNSMIL officials and with US Embassy officials, stressing the role of the AB in preserving public funds, supporting economic reform, and enhancing financial discipline, in addition to its commitment to developing supervisory work in accordance with international standards and modern professional practices. The meetings also emphasized the importance of the Bureau’s independence in exercising its supervisory functions.
At the time of writing on 27 October, the Audit Bureau had not issued a statement formally resuming its activities.
There was also international condemnation of the storming of the Audit Bureau.
On 21 October, UNSMIL condemned ‘in the strongest possible terms the use of force and intimidation at the headquarters of the National Audit Bureau in Tripoli in an attempt to install a disputed deputy head of the institution.’ It said the use of force to impose appointments to sovereign institutions is wholly unacceptable and represents a grave threat to the rule of law and the independence and integrity of Libya’s sovereign institutions. It noted this is especially the case when directed at ‘an independent oversight institution entrusted with safeguarding the use of public funds and ensuring accountability in the management of state resources.’
UNSMIL warned that any attempt to impose changes to its leadership through coercion will further erode public trust and undermine the integrity of public financial oversight and the institution’s ability to carry out its mandate independently and effectively. It called for an immediate end to all armed interference in the affairs of the Audit Bureau and the immediate withdrawal of armed personnel from its premises.
Likewise, the US, UK and EU delegations in Libya condemned (separately) the storming of the Audit Bureau. The US said it was ‘concerned’ by the presence of armed forces at the Libyan Audit Bureau, while the UK said that Libya’s institutions must be able to operate free of intimidation or physical threats. A joint statement by the EU Delegation and EU member state missions to Libya called for an end to any armed presence or coercive action affecting the work of the Audit Bureau and for those involved to leave its premises without delay.