Libya: GNA Grants Chadians Passports amid Growing Concerns
September 14, 2019, 10:20 am

Libya: GNA Grants Chadians Passports amid Growing Concerns

Libyan politicians and human rights activists expressed concern after the Ministry of Interior at the Government of National Accord (GNA) granted passports to Aouzou citizens, Chad, saying they have Libyan identity numbers.

The Ministry’s recent move is interpreted as the government's desire to use those citizens as militants in the battle against the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar on the southern outskirts of Tripoli.

Earlier, Office Director of Interior Minister, Brigadier General Ahmed El-Sadek, addressed heads of the Passports, Nationality and Foreigners Affairs, and the Civil Status Department, on the right of Aouzou citizens who hold national identity numbers to obtain Libyan passports.

Sadek claimed that having the national ID is a prerequisite for obtaining documents and documents indicating citizenship. It is also a condition to obtain any public services requested by citizens born in Aouzou, or other areas within the country or abroad.

Some argued that the procedures adopted by the legal advisor of the Interior Minister “have no legal basis and are invalid.”

Director of the National Human Rights Commission in Libya, Ahmed Abdel Hakim Hamza wondered whether the decision concerns citizens born in Aouzou who left the sector after it was annexed to Chad and moved to Libyan territory, or all Aouzou-born citizens, including those currently living in it.

Hamza also questioned why the decision only required a national ID number to obtain a passport, without requiring Libyan citizenship.

The 114,000-square-kilometer Aouzou region caused a long-running dispute between Libya and Chad until the International Court of Justice ruled that Chad had a majority vote in the region.

In the early 1970s, Libya had full control and administration of the territory to the extent it issued identification cards to residents of the border, and administratively attached it to Murzuq, south of the country.

Secretary-General of the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Libya, Abdel-Moneim al-Hur described the decision issued by GNA as “dangerous”.

Sabha MP Ali al-Saidi Qaidi rejected the decision of Interior Minister Fathi Pasha Agha to issue passports to some citizens of the Chadian Aouzou region.

He pointed out that Libya ceded the territory to Chad following the ruling of the International Court of Justice on February 1994.

Website of al-Marsad newspaper quoted al-Qaidi as saying that this is a manipulation of national security, noting they are Chadian mercenaries to be used by the GNA in its war against LNA.

Qaidi defended his point of view saying GNA has lost a number of fighters and is now trying to bring in more mercenaries by granting them national Ids, but the “Libyan army will put an end to this mockery within the coming days.”

Six civilians killed in Syria’s Idlib despite truce What does Turkey Want from the Kurds?

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.