Al-Sanussi: Real Corruption Lies in the Dual Dollar Exchange Rate, and Khaled Haftar Should Begin Accountability from His Inner Circle

Media figure and economic commentator Ahmed Al-Sanussi, during an interview aired on Libya Al-Ahrar TV, stated that impunity represents the final link in the fight against corruption, stressing that the core problem lies in operating within a system that produces nothing but corruption. He added that Libya has not issued any public tenders since 2011, despite this being standard practice in all countries.

Al-Senussi explained that he had stated two days earlier that the financial system may have been hacked, which caused public concern. He said he now fears the level of anxiety among citizens. He added that these concerns were amplified after the Ministry of Finance issued a statement denying his claims, stressing that his aim is to raise awareness about what he described as the largest ongoing theft, and that the Ministry of Finance and Abubakr Al-Jafal know exactly what he means.

He further stated that the compromised system is linked to the Central Bank of Libya, explaining that access to the personal purposes system reveals salary data, including national ID numbers and salary amounts for every citizen, and that all government institutions are connected to the “Lahdhi (Instant)” application.

He continued that Abdullah Qadarbou is currently in the United States attending a conference on digitalization, and that his agency is among the few entities that refused to join the “Salary Instant” system. He questioned why they have not joined, suggesting that the reason is the existence of fictitious employees.

Al-Senussi noted that the “Instant” system transfers salaries directly to employees, explaining that when this system is not used, some entities receive funds and then distribute them internally. He said that Zoubi refused to adopt the system, as did entities in eastern Libya, and that the Administrative Control Authority and Imad Al-Tarabulsi also did not join. He stressed that the issue is not only about letters of credit or deals, but about ghost salaries paid monthly amounting to billions, questioning whether Libyans truly believe that the number of employees reaches 2.2 million.

He added that corruption in foreign exchange allocations lies in some individuals obtaining dollars at 6.20 LYD, while 99.9% of Libyans receive them at 8.25 LYD, considering this the essence of corruption because it reflects a lack of fairness. He added that he did not only refer to businessmen or executives, but that the primary responsibility lies with state employees. He also said he is personally affected by the situation, noting that a well-known businessman filed a lawsuit against him in the Netherlands after he spoke about large allocations obtained by him and his family.

Al-Senussi argued that silencing one person will not solve the problem, as millions of citizens oppose the continued preferential access to dollars at 6.20 LYD. He stated that the problem lies with Naji Issa and the Central Bank of Libya for failing to unify the exchange rate. He also pointed to the suspension of reports that previously disclosed who received allocations and who did not.

He continued by saying that without public employees, the private sector could not engage in corruption, explaining that the role of the public employee is to fight corruption, while the private sector naturally seeks loopholes. He emphasized that fighting corruption is not the responsibility of the private sector.

Regarding employment, he said that Masoud Suleiman hired around 40,000 people, noting that the praise he receives online is due to the large number of beneficiaries. He added that Suleiman caused severe damage to the oil sector that cannot be repaired, changed the method of calculating oil production costs in Libya, and brought in people with no engineering background.

He added that it is unreasonable for three-quarters of employees in the National Oil Corporation to be administrative staff, stressing that Libya suffers from both administrative and justice problems, and that what is happening constitutes what he called “legal corruption.” He said the state itself is leading corruption instead of combating it.

Al-Sanussi commented on an anti-corruption initiative launched by Chief of Staff Khaled Haftar, questioning the military’s role in fighting corruption and stressing the need to start by holding close associates accountable if there is genuine intent. He added that the issue of foreign currency allocations has been known since 2013, and that citizens see corruption with their own eyes while suffering from poverty and inequality, as well as from individuals with no qualifications who enjoy significant privileges.

He also spoke about persons with disabilities who receive only 650 dinars, noting that claims about stopping salary increases were false. He said that if Khaled Haftar truly wants to take a positive step, he should focus on vulnerable groups, especially social welfare beneficiaries.

He added that large motorcades bring no real benefit to citizens, stressing that Libya bears all costs, both east and west, and that some individuals have become extremely wealthy despite having nothing 15 years ago.

He also mentioned large allocations for Hajj and accommodation in luxury hotels, stating that this is unrelated to pilgrims traveling under the Dbeibah government. He added that there is corruption in this file as well, while acknowledging that the number of pilgrims has increased. He expressed respect for Khaled Haftar in some aspects but stressed that priority should be given to marginalized and vulnerable groups.

He concluded by highlighting the suffering of persons with disabilities, saying they face marginalization and mistreatment. He added that if there is a genuine desire to do good, attention should be directed away from secondary issues toward improving their conditions, increasing their salaries, and holding accountable the entities responsible for their suffering.