Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives (HoR) unanimously approved an additional budget of 88 billion Libyan dinars ($18.3 billion) on Wednesday for the rest of the year.
This comes just months after the parliament approved a separate 90 billion dinar budget for the Benghazi-based government of Prime Minister Osama Hamad.
The additional allocation is intended to address a shortfall identified in the initial budget. HoR member Saltana al-Mosmari explained that consultations with various sectors revealed the need for further funding.
The exact breakdown and purpose of the additional spending remain unclear.
Libya remains deeply divided following the 2011 uprising. The HoR and its associated government in the east control significant territory, while a rival Government of National Unity, led by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, operates in the capital, Tripoli.
The Central Bank of Libya (CBL), located in Tripoli and responsible for managing oil revenues, has not yet confirmed whether it will release the funds to the Benghazi government.
A recent meeting between CBL governor Sadiq Kabir and HoR speaker Aguila Saleh focused on establishing a unified 2024 budget, highlighting the ongoing struggle for financial control.
The approval of the extra budget by the HoR underscores the continued division in Libya’s political landscape. The ability of the eastern government to access these funds and the ultimate impact on the country’s finances remain uncertain.
This situation, coupled with the lack of a unified budget, raises concerns about a return to administrative separation and potential renewed conflict.
International actors, including the United Nations, have emphasized the importance of a unified national budget for achieving stability in Libya.
