Libya at a Crossroads: Beyond Oil, Beyond the Central Bank—A Vision for Economic Power Through AI and Financial Leadership.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم Open Letter to His Excellency Mohamed Al-Menfi, President of the Presidential Council of Libya Your Excellency, First, let me congratulate you on strengthening Libya’s ties with Somalia. It is always a sign of leadership when a nation looks beyond its own borders to forge strategic partnerships. However, Libya’s future cannot be built solely on diplomacy—it must be built on vision. I am writing to you today not as a statesman but as someone deeply invested in the future of economies, financial systems, and AI-driven governance. Libya stands at a crossroads, and while its challenges are many, its opportunities are even greater. The Challenge: Beyond Oil, Beyond the Central Bank Your Excellency, we both know that Libya’s economy has long been dependent on oil revenue. However, the global shift towards renewable energy, electric vehicles, and automation is inevitable. The demand for oil will decline—not tomorrow, but soon enough that Libya must start preparing today. The struggle over the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) is another issue. Financial disputes and control over monetary policies have led to division, corruption, and a lack of trust. The problem is clear: monetary influence in Libya has been weaponized instead of being used as a foundation for national prosperity. This is where real leadership comes in—the kind that money cannot buy. Leadership is not about managing an economy; it is about creating one. A Solution: Libya as the Bank of the Future Your Excellency, there is a way forward. Libya must move beyond oil and become a global financial powerhouse. What if Libya was not just an oil producer, but a country that issues loans, builds monetary policy, and controls the future of financial systems? Instead of being at the mercy of energy prices and political instability, Libya can position itself as the early risk-taker in AI-driven financial infrastructure. Imagine an Islamic digital central bank—one that cooperates with the United States and European partners but remains rooted in Islamic economic principles. This is not about replacing the current system—it’s about expanding it. A Message to the Opposition & Khalifa Haftar Field Marshal Haftar and all those who wield economic and military power in Libya must ask themselves one question: do you want to be players in a game you do not control, or do you want to be the architects of a new system? Right now, the world sees Libya’s Central Bank struggles as a sign of instability. But imagine instead if Libya was trusted as a financial leader—a country where nations invest, borrow, and look for monetary guidance. This is what Libya should be aiming for: a nation that shapes financial markets, rather than one that reacts to them. Your Excellency, you have an opportunity to unify the country under a larger vision—one beyond the disputes over the Central Bank or the division of oil revenue. If Libya moves into AI-driven financial models, it becomes a leader in global finance, not just a resource-rich battleground. A Call for a New Discussion I do not claim to have all the answers, but I am ready to bring this conversation to Libya. AI is the new gold, and Libya has the chance to be its banker. For Libya to truly move forward, the conversation must shift beyond oil and beyond short-term economic disputes. The world is changing—the question is, will Libya change with it or be left behind? I look forward to the day when we can have this discussion in person. The future is waiting. With vision and respect, Omar Arizona