Audit Bureau halts Martyrs’ Square redevelopment

Libya’s Audit Bureau has ordered the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to suspend the redevelopment of Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli pending legal and technical review.

Deputy Head of the Audit Bureau Atiyallah Al-Saiyti instructed NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara on 2 December to pause the $6.85 million project, which was initially approved under Cabinet Resolution No. 584 of 2024 for direct contracting.

The bureau stated that decisions affecting Tripoli’s central landmark require comprehensive assessment. The move follows concerns raised by the Libyan Architecture Authority, which sought urgent consultations regarding potential impacts of the redevelopment.

The project has already prompted road closures around the square, including parts of Omar Al-Mukhtar Street, according to Tripoli’s Security Directorate.