(3 November 2026 – Lybia) Libya’s parliament has appointed Fauzi Abokhzam as the country’s new central bank governor, following the resignation of his predecessor, Naji Issa, amid ongoing political tensions and uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the country’s monetary authority.
The appointment was approved on Monday, with 78 of the 90 lawmakers in attendance voting in favour of Abokhzam, according to a statement from the legislature.
The decision follows months of uncertainty over Issa’s position after he initially submitted his resignation in August. Parliament rejected the request at the time before unexpectedly reversing its decision in October, announcing that it had accepted his departure without providing an explanation.
The leadership transition has been accompanied by heightened tensions surrounding the central bank. On the same day parliament confirmed Issa’s resignation, the Central Bank of Libya reported that unidentified individuals had raided its headquarters in the capital, Tripoli.
The developments underscore the challenges facing Libya’s financial institutions as the country continues to navigate deep political divisions more than a decade after the 2011 overthrow of former leader Muammar Qaddafi.
Libya remains divided between the United Nations-recognised government based in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east supported by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Issa was appointed central bank governor in 2024 following a prolonged political dispute over control of the institution, which contributed to disruptions in oil production and a wider financial crisis.
The latest leadership change comes amid shifting political dynamics in eastern Libya, where parliament operates from Benghazi under Haftar’s influence. The legislature appointed a new speaker just weeks before reversing its earlier decision to reject Issa’s resignation.
Abokhzam now assumes leadership of the central bank at a time when political fragmentation and institutional uncertainty continue to present significant challenges to Libya’s economic and financial stability.