Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, issued a stern warning on Thursday, vowing to take action against further militia clashes following the recent violent outbreak in Tripoli. The clashes, the deadliest in the city this year, resulted in the loss of at least 45 lives.
Speaking at a meeting of Tripoli elders, Prime Minister Dbeibah stressed that targeting civilians is strictly prohibited. He emphasized that if rival militias fail to deescalate the situation, decisive measures will be taken against them.
“People are living in constant terror. We cannot treat their lives as a game. We must resort to more stringent measures,” asserted Prime Minister Dbeibah.
Moreover, Dbeibah extended his heartfelt apologies to those who lost their loved ones in the recent violence. He assured the nation that he, along with all Libyans, is deeply dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, stating, “We will not remain silent until we put an end to this matter.”
Prime Minister Dbeibah’s statements coincided with the release of Mahmoud Hamza, a commander from the influential 444 Brigade. Hamza had been detained by the rival Special Deterrence Force at a Tripoli airport on Monday. Consequently, this triggered a 24-hour gunfight between the two factions in the capital.
Footage aired on Libyan media late Wednesday showed Mahmoud Hamza returning to his militia’s headquarters in Tripoli.
As of now, there is no updated information regarding the number of casualties, as it remains unclear how many of the deceased were militia members versus civilians. However, according to Malek Merset, spokesperson for Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Center, an additional 146 individuals sustained injuries.
This recent surge of violence highlights the fragile state of war-torn Libya since the uprising and subsequent civil war in 2011, which led to the downfall and subsequent death of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
During this period, militias have risen in power and wealth, particularly in Tripoli and western Libya. Many of these armed groups profit from kidnapping operations and involvement in the lucrative human trafficking trade.
The 444 Brigade and the Special Deterrence Force are two of the largest militias operating in Tripoli. Previously, both factions had actively supported Prime Minister Dbeibah, joining forces in May 2022 to counter an attempted entry into the capital by a former rival Prime Minister from eastern Libya.
Following the recent clashes, Libyan security forces have increased their presence on the streets of Tripoli. The country’s Interior Ministry has deployed security personnel to the areas most affected by the fighting, such as the southern Fernaj neighborhood and al-Shouk Road.
To closely monitor the situation, a dedicated situation room has been established. However, by Wednesday, the situation in the city had calmed down considerably.
Africanews/Hauwa M.
