On 18 August, in the morning, the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) issued a statement in which it denounced the ‘kidnapping of the Director of the Information Technology Department, Musab Emsallem, by an unknown party in front of his house this Sunday morning at 9 am. and the threat of kidnapping by some other officials.’ The CBL said it rejects the ‘demagogic methods practiced by some parties outside the framework of the law which threatens the safety of its employees and the continuation of the banking sector’s work’. The CBL confirmed the suspension of all the bank’s work, departments and systems until Emsalim is released. Later the same day, Emsalim was released and the CBL resumed operations.
