On 11 July, the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Internal Security Agency (ISA) detained former Finance Minister and candidate to be the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) governor Faraj Boumtari on his arrival at Mitiga airport and took him to an undisclosed location. In protest to his detention, Boumatri’s members of his Zwai tribe and their supporters shut down production at several oilfields, demanding his release.
Two days later, the High State Council (HSC) said the ISA prevented five of its members from traveling via Mitiga Airport in Tripoli and confiscated their passports. In an official letter to the office of the Attorney General, HSC head Khaled al-Mishri described the situation as a ‘heinous crime’ and an ‘assault on the freedom of movement’ enshrined in the law, asking the Attorney General to ‘take urgent legal measures against this crime’. On the same day, the House of Representatives (HoR) issued a statement condemning the measures against the HSC members and urging the Attorney General to hold those responsible accountable ‘as soon as possible’.