
The Central Bank of Libya CBL continues its efforts to reduce the black-market exchange rate of the Libyan dinar against major currencies, particularly the US dollar. The CBL has been providing daily briefings to media outlets, indicating continued sales of hard currency allocations for personal use and letters of credit. Sales over the past two days reached US$780 million for personal purposes and US$800 million for letters of credit and remittances. The CBL is also preparing to begin cash sales of foreign currency and will authorize foreign exchange bureaux to broker these sales for personal purposes. The CBL's Board of Directors is expected to approve the mechanism for selling dollars in cash through exchange companies, offices, and commercial banks, with sales anticipated to resume early next week. The CBL projects the dinar's value to decrease to 7.90 dinars per dollar before mid-April. This initiative is part of a strategy to regulate the exchange market and reduce speculation between the official and parallel market rates. The dinar closed at approximately LD 8.75 per dollar yesterday and was trading at LD 8.84 per US dollar today, an improvement from LD 10.50 in March. The CBL's frequent briefings are seen as a psychological tactic to deter black-market traders from buying dollars at high prices, aiming to strengthen the dinar's value by signaling an increased supply of dollars in the market. The CBL faces a persistent over-demand for the dollar in the black market, a
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Must ReadArmed clashes and exchanges of fire in the city of Zawia intensified, affecting areas near the Zawia Oil Refinery complex. The refinery reported that heavy caliber shells fell within its compound, reaching operating areas. This necessitated an emergency shutdown of the refinery and the evacuation of tankers from the port to ensure safety. The Libyan Red Crescent branch in Zawiya received distress calls from citizens, noting widespread anxiety and panic due to the clashes. The Zawia Security Directorate, representing the Tripoli-based Libyan government, launched a security operation against outlaw hideouts, urging citizen cooperation and warning wanted individuals against resistance. Zawia is described as a politically polarized city, with this polarization contributing to a security vacuum exploited by various groups involved in illicit trade.
Must ReadThe African Development Bank AfDB has expressed a strong desire to support the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio LAIP's Two Transit Corridors Project. The AfDB's offer includes mobilizing international funding from donors to secure partial or full financing for the project's technical and economic studies and subsequent phases. This offer followed a meeting on May 6 between LAIP's High Committee for the project and an AfDB delegation led by Malin Blomberg, the Bank’s Deputy Director, at the Land Transport Authority of the Tripoli-based Libyan Ministry of Transport. The meeting highlighted the project's strategic importance and its potential to enhance transportation, logistics, and connectivity among African nations. Both parties agreed to continue coordination, cooperation, and the exchange of technical data to advance the project.

The Attorney General’s Office in Libya has launched an investigation into alleged illicit financial benefits from banking operations at Al-Wahda Bank’s Souq Al-Thulatha branch. The Anti-Corruption Prosecution, under the Tripoli Court of Appeal, is examining information related to the collection of US$2.8 million in documentary credits without the corresponding deposit of Libyan dinars. Authorities have ordered the detention of the official responsible for managing documentary credit affairs at the time of the transaction and a representative of the company that benefited from the alleged fraud. Other participants in the incident are also being sought for questioning. Separately, Libya's Administrative Control Authority ACA continues to receive complaints and reports from citizens and residents through its Raqeeb whistleblowing website, aiming to enhance transparency and legal accountability while protecting whistleblowers.

Al-Hadba Al-Khadra General Hospital in Libya successfully performed the country's first wireless pacemaker implantation on a patient with a slow heart rate. This procedure, part of the Ministry of Health's 100-day Plan, marks a significant medical milestone for Libya and is the eighth such implantation on the African continent. The Ministry of Health highlighted that this achievement demonstrates the efficiency of Libyan medical staff in utilizing advanced wireless pacemaker technology, which is implanted directly into the heart without traditional wires, thereby reducing risks and accelerating patient recovery. This initiative reflects the Ministry's commitment to developing the healthcare sector and improving services for Libyan citizens, underscoring the positive impact of investing in national medical expertise and providing a suitable technical environment.