Libya’s state General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) announced yesterday that its General Manager, Khalid Al-Tawati, had been kidnapped again. The kidnapping comes only five months after he had suffered a first kidnapping.
Kidnapped from in front of his home
The GNMTC said that last Wednesday (31 January), immediately after the completion of the company’s first Board of Directors meeting for 2024, and immediately after leaving the company’s headquarters to return to his home, accompanied by some of his companions, Al-Tawati and his companions were subjected to an armed attack in front of his house located in the Ghout Al-Shaal area.
Reasons for kidnapping unknown to GNMTC
It reported that an armed group driving two vehicles carrying civilian license plates fired a barrage of bullets and kidnapped them all and then took them to an unknown destination and without any knowledge of the reasons for the kidnapping.
His companions released
The company said after about two hours, Al-Tawati’s companions were released from one of the security sites located in the Al-Falah area near the Iron Bridge, while the kidnapping and forced disappearance of Al-Tawati continued. It says it still does not know the reasons, who is responsible for his kidnapping, and what the health condition of Al-Tawati is. It says this constituted a legal breach of several crimes stipulated in the Penal Code.
Government bears responsibility
The company says the consequences of this criminal act and the full legal responsibility falls on all state institutions, its government, and its security services, without exception, despite their knowledge of the incident.
Kidnapping confirms ‘‘complete absence of control over criminal acts and poor security conditions in Tripoli’’
It says this matter confirms the complete absence of control over criminal acts and demonstrates the poor security conditions in the capital, Tripoli, and the inability of citizens and institutions to carry out their duties and daily lives in a normal and humane manner.
It says the kidnapping disregards the second circular for the year 2024 of the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, issued on January 15, 2024, prohibiting the interference of security and military services in all their names or using their influence in the work of ministries, agencies and civil institutions, and not exerting any pressure on their course of work under any pretext.
The GNMTC called on all legal entities to intervene directly and urgently for the freedom, safety and release of Al-Tawati, without any restrictions or conditions, to ensure the progress of its work in a manner guaranteed by the law for all.
