Jump to navigation

Vol 66 No 10

Published 16th May 2025

Libya

The Gadaffi billions – how Libya plans to reclaim the stolen wealth

PREVIEW

Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi stashed billions in US banks, and now Libya’s power brokers are vying for control of this hidden fortune. The scramble for wealth has ignited a fierce political battle in Tripoli – one so ruthless that the official leading the recovery has been forced into hiding, fearing for his life. An Africa Confidential Special Report by John Hamilton our North Africa correspondent and managing director of Cross-Border Information.

After three months in illegal detention – partly in one of Libya’s most brutal prisons – Mohammed al Mensli, Director-General of the Libyan Asset Recovery and Management Office (LARMO) has been released – opening the way for his agency to pursue the recovery of up to US$50 billion in assets stolen by Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi’s regime overthrown in 2011. 


Read this Special Report for free here: The Gadaffi billions – how Libya plans to reclaim the stolen wealth


Libya's oil and gas resources: at the centre of the political fight

Copyright © Africa Confidential 2026
https://www.africa-confidential.com

Prepared for Free Article on 13/07/2026 at 00:54. Authorized users may download, save, and print articles for their own use, but may not further disseminate these articles in their electronic form without express written permission from Africa Confidential / Asempa Limited. Contact subscriptions@africa-confidential.com.

Related Articles

Haftar falls back

Now that General Haftar is in retreat, he says he’s backing Egypt’s ceasefire plan. The government in Tripoli may try to finish him off first

Fourteen months after launching his 'lightning' offensive to seize the Libyan capital and oust the UN-recognised Government of National Accord, eastern-based General Khalifa Haftar now wants a peace...

Enter the General

Retired General Khalifa Haftar has taken on the Islamist militias that dominate the east and intends to capture Parliament and seize power

A group of senior officers led by General Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, Chief of Staff under the late Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi, is drawing militias to its banner from...

Jagged path to elections

Libya now has a shortlist of 21 candidates for the post of prime minister and 24 for the three vacancies on the Presidency Council (one president and two...

Corruption and power struggles plague recovery plan

Militia leaders and their political allies continue to siphon oil revenues, overriding timid reform attempts

Oil production, the lifeblood of Libya’s economy, is nearing 1.4 million barrels a day; a substantial hike but still 200,000 b/d below target. Political manoeuvring and rampant corruption...


Stories by country

Footer Map