Libya & UK hold talks on frozen assets amid Epstein scandal

Libya has intensified efforts to safeguard its billions of dollars worth of frozen sovereign assets held abroad, as reported by the Libya Review on February 6. High-level talks were held with the United Kingdom which aimed to strengthen international cooperation and oversight of the funds.

Senior Libyan officials met British Ambassador to Libya Martin Longden at the House of Representatives headquarters in Tripoli to discuss the protection and eventual recovery of Libya’s frozen assets. The talks brought together key figures overseeing the sensitive file, reflecting renewed diplomatic momentum around an issue long regarded as central to Libya’s national interests.

The talks between Libya and Britain on tighter safeguards follows evidence that Libya’s frozen assets have previously been the target of illegal schemes involving British intelligence authorities. Documents released from a 2011 exchange involving the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein described efforts to gain access to Libya’s frozen funds during the post-Gaddafi period, including references to the involvement of former British intelligence figures from MI6. The scandal highlights the longstanding risks surrounding Libya’s overseas wealth and situates these latest talks with British officials within the broader context of British state-espionage in Libya.

Among those present at the talks with the British ambassador was Youssef Al-Agouri, head of the parliamentary committee responsible for monitoring Libyan assets frozen overseas. He was joined by members of the verification committee, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of Libya’s oversight institutions.

Libyan participants underscored that the frozen funds are sovereign wealth belonging solely to the Libyan people and must remain fully protected until conditions permit their lawful return and use. Al-Agouri warned that extended freezes without rigorous monitoring could leave the assets vulnerable to legal challenges, loss in value, or indirect misuse, describing their protection as a national priority.

Libyan officials urged continued British support to ensure strict adherence to international safeguards, while also backing measures that promote transparency, effective oversight, and coordination with recognised Libyan institutions.

Both sides agreed to maintain close cooperation and regular consultations, with the shared objective of ensuring Libya’s frozen assets remain secure until they can be responsibly restored to support national recovery and development.

Libya Review, Maghrebi.org