Clashes between militias in the Libyan capital leave 13 civilians dead

First modification: 08/28/2022 – 00:18

The Tripoli Municipal Council blames Libya’s ruling political class for the deteriorating situation in the capital.

The escalating violence threatens to destroy the relative calm the North African country has enjoyed for most of the past two years.

At least 13 civilians were killed and more than 95 wounded in clashes between rival militias in Tripoli’s residential neighborhoods from Friday night to Saturday, August 27. According to the Ministry of Health, 64 families have been evacuated from the areas surrounding the fighting.

The UN special mission in Libya (UNSMIL) urged “the immediate cessation of hostilities” between the rival militias. “The United Nations in Libya is deeply concerned about the ongoing armed clashes, including indiscriminate medium and heavy shelling of civilian-populated neighborhoods in Tripoli, which are reportedly causing civilian casualties and damage to civilian facilities, including hospitals,” he said. the mission in a statement.

The armed clashes also affected the residence of the mayor of Tripoli and a bullet hit the Libyan comedian Mustafa Baraka while he was making a live broadcast on social networks. Baraka, who died after the impact of the projectile, was known for mocking the militias and corruption.

The Ministry of Health also announced in a statement that six hospitals and medical centers in the capital were bombed, and ambulance crews held to evacuate civilians, in acts that “amount to war crimes.”

Two governments that want to have power in Libya

One is based in Tripoli and has been led since 2021 by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, head of the Government of National Unity (GUN), as a result of a United Nations-led peace process following a previous cycle of violence.

The other government that is vying for power is headed by former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, based in Sirte, in the center of the country’s coastline, and has the support of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a strong man from the east.

The two administrations blamed each other for this latest outbreak of violence, which caused significant damage. Both Dbeiba and Bashagha have the support of the militias, which have been mobilizing in recent weeks to try to enter Tripoli and dislodge their rival.

“It is also imperative that all parties refrain from using any form of hate speech and incitement to violence,” UNSMIL called.

An attempt in May by Bashagha to install his government in Tripoli sparked clashes that ended with his withdrawal from the capital.

Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, urged de-escalation “before things get worse” and urged Libyan parties to agree on an early date for elections.

The Arab League calls for dialogue between the parties

The secretary general of the Arab League, Ahmed Abulgheit, was “very concerned” on Saturday about the clashes between rival militias in Tripoli.

“I feel very concerned about the situation in Tripoli and I ask everyone to assume their responsibilities (…) I invite everyone to dialogue and not to use weapons,” Abulgheit said on his Twitter account.

For its part, Qatar invited the parties to “avoid escalation and bloodshed” and to “protect civilians and civilian facilities as a top priority.”

“Qatar renews its full support for the political path in Libya, for the resolutions of the UN Security Council and for all peaceful solutions that preserve the unity, stability and sovereignty of Libya,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement. release.

These clashes are the most violent since the appearance in February of an administration parallel to the GUN, with the appointment of Bashaga as prime minister by Parliament, controlled by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

The oil-rich nation was plunged into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising that ousted and killed autocrat Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

With AP, AFP and EFE