Libya: Clashes continue across Tripoli

Hopes that a new government and president can be elected and peace can be realistically attained, either with a UN mandate or without, are rapidly fading in Libya.

Clashes have continued across Tripoli, the capital of western Libya, despite the fact authorities had called for a ceasefire after gunfire broke out on Monday 12th May.

As reported by France 24 on May 15th, clashes between the state counter-terrorism group Radaa and the armed militia group 444 Brigade resumed just a day after a ceasefire was declared.

Fighting began in the wake of the death of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, better known as Gheniwa, the commander of Support Force Apparatus SSA – an armed group who are backed by the government in Libya – and are one of Tripoli’s powerful armed groups who are based in the populated Abu Salim district.

According to reports from Al Wasat television, Gheniwa was killed at the headquarters of the 444 Brigade, who are also based in the Abu Salim district of the city.

The SSA is under the protection of the Presidential Council after the election of the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah came to power in 2021 through a United Nations-backed process.

Therefore state authorities in Libya were active in seeking out the perpetrators of the killing thus leading to clashes breaking out across Tripoli.

Violent clashes have taken place across many busy, residential areas in the country as tensions have been rising across the country in recent months.

The latest bout of violence has caused fatalities in Tripoli with authorities reporting that six people died in a rocket strike on the first day of conflict.

Provocations or acts of aggression by militia groups were promised to be met with severe consequences by Libyan authorities, in April the Tripoli Protection Force warned militias against advancing towards the capital, vowing a “violent and unprecedented retaliation to any military advance on Tripoli.”

Despite their warnings, authorities are now having to deal with outbreaks of urban warfare which put civilian lives at risk and prevent normal day-to-day life from taking place.

France 24, Maghrebi