Rival militias star in Tripoli the bloodiest clashes in recent weeks

The fighting leaves at least 12 dead and 87 wounded while the prime minister of unity breaks contacts with the parallel government

27 (EUROPE PRESS)

The capital of Libya, Tripoli, has become since this past dawn the scene of one of the most intense clashes in recent weeks between forces related to the unity government led by the Prime Minister, Mohamed Hamid Dbeibé, and militias associated with the government parallel to Fazi Bashaga in the east of the country, who would be leading an advance towards the city after denouncing the authorities of the capital as illegitimate for months, according to local sources.

Such is the seriousness of the situation that it is not ruled out that Dbeibé will soon declare a state of “general mobilization” in the country, according to Al Arabiya, while the president of the Transitional Presidential Council, the body recognized by the United Nations to manage the process in Libya, Mohamed Menfi, has been forced to bring forward the end of his official visit to Tunisia to return to the country urgently.

The fighting in Tripoli is pitting the so-called Support and Stability Force, under the orders of the unity government, against militias led by Haitem Tajouri, and has so far left at least 12 dead and 87 wounded, according to the latest balance published by the Ministry of Health of the Government of National Unity and collected by the Libyan news portal Panorama.

The mayor of the city, Ibrahim Al Shibl, has denounced a “tragic” situation in several neighborhoods — especially in Bab Ben Ghashir, Jamhouria, Zawiya and Nasir, epicenters of the fighting this morning — while the Ambulance and Emergency Service of Libya has called for a truce to open safe corridors in the capital.

In a statement collected by the Libya Observer portal, the Government of National Unity has deplored all the fighting and confirmed the “failure of the peace talks” with the parallel government of Bashaga after accusing the latter of “opting for violence”.

Similarly, the Libyan unity government has warned of the appearance of “military concentrations” from the coastal highway to the east of Tripoli “to destabilize the security of the city, in a miserable attempt to widen the circle of aggression against the capital “.

Sources from the Libya Observer have specified that it would be militias related to Bashaga that have advanced from the Warshafana region and are now engaged in new combats against forces of the unity government in Janzour, in the west of the city.

In contrast, Bashaga’s office has claimed that Dbeibé has ignored all attempts to reach a reconciliation. “For six months, Prime Minister Bashagha has welcomed local and international initiatives to resolve the crisis by peaceful transition of power.”

The first international reaction has come from the spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, who has stated that the Security Council is observing “with concern” the events in Libya, including the mobilization of forces and the threats of resorting to confrontation. violence in Tripoli for political purposes, and has called for immediate action to end the violence.

Next, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have expressed their concerns about the fighting in Tripoli. From the North American Embassy the “deep concern” of the White House has been transferred. “We support the Libyan people in their call for peaceful dialogue,” he said in a statement.

Similarly, the British Embassy issued a brief statement via Twitter calling for “an immediate end to the violence in Tripoli” and condemning “any attempt to seize or maintain power by force.”

Meanwhile, Dutch ambassador Dolf Hogewoning has urged all parties to “refrain from violent acts” and called for “peaceful measures and dialogue for the benefit of all Libyans.”

It should be remembered that Bashaga has attempted to take control of Tripoli as many as twice — on July 22, clashes left 16 dead and around 50 wounded — before giving up to avoid a serious armed struggle. Right now his government is based in the city of Sirte, but the prime minister of the country’s east has been threatening for days to carry out a definitive offensive against the capital.

Dbeibé came to power after the historic 2020 ceasefire that ended a year of fighting between forces from Tripoli and from the east of the country, led by rebel marshal Khalifa Haftar.

The transitional government was mandated to take the country to elections last December, but they never took place due to divisions over the rules and the presence of controversial candidates, culminating in the controversial appointment of Bashaga.