Years of division have exhausted this country. The battle for security is not confined to the streets. Another front exists. It is quieter yet more dangerous. This is the identity front. The “national number” serves as an administrative identifier. It has become a key. This key unlocks rights and privileges. The fragile state has wide loopholes. Fraud networks exploit these weaknesses.
The Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, faced a major challenge. This occurred in late 2025 and early 2026. He led a judicial process. Its goal was to expose manipulation of civil registry data. Many Libyans believe the Interior Ministry should have led the response. The ministry directly oversees the Civil Registry Authority. However, ground realities show the Public Prosecution Office opened this file. It remained a forbidden topic for years. Then it suddenly exploded.
Judicial procedures reveal the extent of manipulation. This happened across various civil registry offices. In Sirte Center alone, investigations uncovered family registration fraud. This led to 598 national numbers for foreigners. These individuals used forged documents to claim citizenship rights. In Misrata (Zamzam), 326 people obtained national numbers. This was also through fraudulent registrations. In Sirte and Abu Hadi, 93 foreign men and 42 foreign women received national numbers. Birthplaces of some women were falsified within their husbands’ family files.
The story extends beyond mere numbers. These numbers are not just recorded and forgotten. According to the Public Prosecution, these numbers became tools. They were used to seize state benefits. This included grants for Libyan families. It also provided access to “citizenship-derived rights.” In some cases, it enabled obtaining Libyan passports. It even led to public employment.
A significant incident involved family registration transfers. These moved from Ubari to Hun and Suknah. The Public Prosecution stated this facilitated a process. It allowed 225 Malian citizens to acquire national numbers. They also obtained passports and grants. Some even secured public sector jobs.
On January 3, 2026, the Public Prosecution reported another Ubari incident. A Libyan family head conspired with a civil registry employee. They inserted a foreign national’s data onto the family registration sheet. This allowed the foreigner to obtain national numbers. These were for himself, his wife, and his children. The case concluded with the arrest of the beneficiary. The office official and data entry clerk were also arrested.
Investigations are ongoing. However, the process has moved beyond initial arrests. Judicial rulings have been issued. A “Maamura” Civil Registry Office employee was convicted. He received a three-year prison sentence. This was for enabling a foreigner to obtain 13 national numbers. The incidents show the fraud was neither primitive nor limited. In Sabha, hundreds of forged documents were seized. These included birth certificates, residency permits, family status papers, marriage and divorce contracts, official letters, family forms, identity cards, and inter-office transfer requests.
On December 30, 2025, the Attorney General met with Public Prosecution members. Their task was to investigate fraud in all appellate courts. They reviewed audit statistics for residency, transfer, and registration data. This covered 160 Civil Registry Authority offices. The scope of verification expanded. It now includes conditions for foreigners obtaining citizenship. It also covers reversing the impact of these incidents. This impacts economic, social, and political rights.
Many questions arise. How did these networks spread within an institution? This institution holds the keys to identity. How did registry loopholes become a means to acquire grants, passports, and rights? This occurs in a country already facing economic and living pressures. Such pressures make all government support a sensitive issue. What has been uncovered is not just isolated incidents. It indicates a long-standing pattern. Public interest intertwines with individual interests. This exploits state fragility and overlapping authorities. Despite arguments about delays, many believe opening this file is best. Even if late, it is better than keeping it closed. Falsifying national numbers is not mere document tampering. It undermines the very meaning of the state.
This case has gained widespread attention. Citizens praised Attorney General Al-Siddiq Al-Sour’s role. He initiated the process to uncover fraud in the Civil Registry Authority. They consider opening this file essential. It protects identity and public funds. Citizens sent messages of support. They urged continued procedures and prosecution of those involved. They also called for rectifying the effects of fraudulent data.