The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned, in the strongest terms, the use of force and intimidation at the Audit Bureau’s headquarters in Tripoli, in an attempt to impose a contested appointment for the position of Deputy Head of the Bureau.
UNSMIL said resorting to force to impose appointments within sovereign institutions is entirely unacceptable and poses a grave threat to the rule of law, as well as to the integrity and independence of Libya’s sovereign institutions.
Such actions, it added, are deeply concerning, particularly as they target an independent oversight body tasked with protecting public funds and ensuring accountability in the management of state resources. Any attempt to force leadership changes within this institution through intimidation will not only further erode public trust but will also undermine the integrity of public financial oversight and hinder the Bureau’s ability to perform its duties independently and effectively—ultimately harming the interests of the Libyan people.
‘‘In this context, the Mission calls for an immediate end to all forms of armed interference in the affairs of the Audit Bureau and urges the prompt withdrawal of armed elements from its premises. Furthermore, the Mission calls upon the concerned parties to resolve disputes regarding appointments within sovereign institutions exclusively through established legal and institutional channels, in accordance with applicable Libyan legislation and in line with the provisions and principles of the Libyan Political Agreement’’.
British Embassy
Meanwhile, in a statement, the British Embassy expressed its ‘‘concern regarding the presence of armed forces at the headquarters of the Libyan Audit Bureau today.
We emphasize that the independence of Libyan institutions is of critical importance, and that they must be able to carry out their functions with complete freedom, free from any intimidation or physical threats.
Any disputes concerning the leadership of these institutions must be resolved peacefully and through established Libyan consensus-based mechanisms’’.
The condemnation statement comes after video footage emerged on social media of a crowded scuffle this morning at the entrance of the Audit Bureau in the Abumishmasha area of Tripoli's Nasr Street.
444th Combat Brigade?
Unconfirmed social media reports say forces associated with the 444th Brigade Commander, Mahmoud Hamza, stormed the headquarters of the Audit Bureau in Tripoli, using armed force to install Anwar al-Hoash in the position of Deputy Head. Video footage does show army vehicles with the insignia usually associated with the 444th.
It is to be noted that the 444th Combat Brigade, ostensibly, is part of the western Libyan Army under the political control of Tripoli Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba - in his dual role as Minister of Defence.