The board of National Oil Corporation (NOC) has welcomed the release of two employees - Ashraf Msallam and Valentin-Laurentiu Puscasu - who have been held captive for 1 year and 7 months.

NOC Chairman, Mustafa Sanallah, said in a statement on Monday that he was very glad to see these men safe and that their time in captivity had finally ended.

He also called on the relevant law enforcement agencies to urgently investigate this situation further and name and prosecute those responsible for this crime, to ensure future kidnappings never happen again.

"The safety of employees and workers is a priority. Some workers in NOC facilities can be exposed to significant risks and we must guarantee their security at all times. I wish Mr Msallam and Mr Puscasu a quick reunion with their families and loved ones, as soon as it is safe to do so.” Sanallah remarked.

In mid-July 2018, the NOC said four of its employees were abducted after an attack by unknown gunmen on Sharara oilfield in southern Libya. Two employees were later released, but two others remained in captivity; a Libyan national and a Romanian one, who were released Monday.