Tensions escalated in Tripoli due to militia conflict
Abdel Hamid Dabaiba, the head of the Libyan Unity Government, continued to ignore the security and military tension, which escalated on its third day in a row in the capital, Tripoli, between armed militias loyal to his government. Yesterday evening, as the Minister of Defense of the Unity Government, he participated in a ceremony held in the capital to mark the graduation of a new batch of 400 officers from the Ministry of Interior Training Institute.
In a brief statement, the “Al-Nawasi” militia confirmed that its leader had survived what it described as a failed assassination attempt, which he was subjected to after the sunset prayer on the day before yesterday, without revealing further details. Meanwhile, sources said that unidentified gunmen shot Qaddour’s car near one of his headquarters in central Tripoli. Amid this fraught atmosphere, Mohamed Al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff, and Abdel-Basit Marwan, Commander of the Tripoli Military Region, visited the headquarters of the “444th Combat Brigade” to check on the progress of the security plan, which is designed to secure the capital.
In a surprising development, a police officer named Jibril Al-Said from the Security Directorate of the capital, Tripoli, was assassinated, coinciding with an assassination attempt against Mustafa Kaddour, commander of the Eighth Force, known as “Al-Nawasi Militia”, on Al-Shat Road in the capital, Tripoli.
The “444 Brigade” had announced that its members had continued, within the framework of the plan established by the Tripoli Military District, the evacuation of illegal headquarters in the regions of Salah al-Din and Road of al-Shouk in Tripoli, noting that 23 headquarters had been evacuated so far.
For his part, Abdullah Al-Lafi, a member of the Presidential Council, said that, in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the Libyan Army, he met with a number of members of the “5 + 5” Joint Military Committee, who briefed him on the military and security track, and the latest developments regarding the opening of the coastal road, indicating in a statement Via Twitter that this meeting “comes as a prelude to holding the next Supreme Commander’s meeting with all the members of the committee.”
It was decided that the Libyan House of Representatives at its headquarters in Tobruk, in the far east, would discuss the proposed budget for the Dabaiba government for the current year, despite parliamentary objections.
This step means that this brigade, loyal to the Dabaiba government, has expanded its areas of influence, especially in the southern suburbs of the city, in the context of the traditional struggle between its armed militias over areas of influence and control.
According to a statement distributed by his office, Dabaiba, who is preparing to make during the next few days his first visit of its kind to the city of Benghazi (east), informed the graduates of the institute that their work in protecting people is a great honor, and that carrying weapons is to defend the homeland and the citizen, and demanded that they be Role model in discipline. He also promised that his government would provide all support to build the capacity of police personnel.
Dabaiba also held a phone call yesterday with the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, which dealt with bilateral relations and the latest developments in the two countries. Dabaiba said in this regard, “We share many challenges and opportunities with Sudan, and we look forward to an upcoming meeting at the leadership level of the two countries soon.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Presidency Council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, stressed the importance of the role of the African Union Commission in the political process and achieving stability in Libya.
This came during an exiled meeting in Tripoli yesterday, with the President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, and his accompanying delegation, and the meeting that brought them together dealt with the historical relations between Libya and the Commission.
While Al-Manfi stressed the importance of the return of the African Union Commission office to Libya to enhance cooperation, Faki affirmed the AU Commission’s support for Libya at all levels, especially in limiting the phenomenon of illegal immigration and achieving comprehensive national reconciliation in the country. Faki also stressed the Union’s support for the Presidency Council in establishing stability, making the political process successful, and achieving the election date on schedule.
Yesterday, the exile received the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sabri Boukadoum, the Algerian Minister of Interior, “Kamal Beljoud”, and the delegation accompanying them. The exiled stressed during the meeting of the two ministers the depth of brotherly relations between the two countries
And the importance of strengthening it, noting Libya’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with Algeria in various fields, and appreciating its role in supporting the security and stability of Libya, according to a statement issued by
Libyan Presidential Council.
In another context, Younes Al-Azouzi, the mayor of the municipality of Bani Walid, criticized the media, especially the Arab ones, about the kidnapping of illegal immigrants in the city, and portraying it as if it was targeting Egyptians in Libya. The Libyan News Agency, affiliated with the unity government, quoted Yunus as saying that 31 African migrants, including 4 Egyptians, were freed from the grip of a human smuggling network and handed over to the competent authorities in Tripoli. He pointed out that the local residents, together with the City Security Directorate, participated in rescuing the migrants, who entered illegally, and were forcibly detained in one of the smugglers’ centers.
On the other hand, the Libyan Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina announced the reopening of visa services at the Bosnian Embassy in the capital, Tripoli, noting that Libyan citizens can now submit requests for the necessary visa to visit Bosnia, through its embassy, as of yesterday, according to an agreement made with the Bosnian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To provide facilities for the citizens of the two countries, and to support joint cooperation in the field of tourism and trade exchange.
