The Zambian government has frozen Libya's 75 percent stake in the Zambia Telecommunication Co. (Zamtel) in order to enforce U.N.-backed sanctions. The sanctions come in the wake of unrest that has engulfed the Libya, aimed at unseating President Moammar Gadhafi.

The Zambian government has not yet officially taken over management of Zamtel. In Uganda and Rwanda, however, the governments have not only frozen Libya's assets but taken over management of the telecom companies owned by the Libyan government through its telecom investment arm, the LAP Green network.

Libya had moved to compete with major telecom players in Africa, including Airtel, Vodacom and MTN, but the country's investment and expansion plans have now been shattered.

Hans Paulsen, an LAP Green manager running Zamtel, said the company will continue to operate normally and that the Zambian government will be overseeing its affairs.