Latest news with #Ghneiwa
Libyan Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Libya's troubled GNU is not going just yet, further clashes are likely
Protesters gathered in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli, to demonstrate against the Government of National Unity led by Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, on May 30, 2025. AFP Tripoli's Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, is under immense strain, but it would be premature to consider it finished. Despite mounting unrest, the GNU remains entrenched, deploying every tool at its disposal—from subtle propaganda and financial incentives to leveraging armed militias—to maintain control. The turmoil of mid-May may have dealt the most serious blow yet to what many see as Libya's most corrupt and dysfunctional government since the fall of Gaddafi. This post-Gaddafi regime—born from NATO's 2011 intervention, the largest war coalition of the modern era—was sold as a mission of liberation, security, and prosperity, but instead plunged the country into more than a decade of chaos, lawlessness, and foreign interference unlike anything seen since Libya's independence over 70 years ago. Late in the afternoon of May 12, reports began circulating that Abdulghani Al-Kikli—better known as 'Ghneiwa'—had been killed by the 444th Brigade at a military barracks in southern Tripoli. He had reportedly been lured to his death under the guise of a reconciliation meeting, intended to ease tensions that had been simmering around the capital for weeks. News of his death spread rapidly across social media and independent outlets, while government-linked media remained silent for two days before issuing vague, distorted reports. The government made no official comment until after fighting had already erupted across Tripoli's streets. A short time after Ghneiwa's death was confirmed, fighting erupted across the capital. It was concentrated initially on the densely populated southern district of Abu Salim, where he had operated with near-total impunity for years. His grip on the area long predated his 2021 appointment as head of the government-sanctioned Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) by then Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. By midnight on 12 May, the clashes had spread across nearly every major neighbourhood of Tripoli—from Sarraj in the west to the outskirts of Tajura in the east, including the city center. When a fragile truce finally brought calm to Tripoli, unofficial figures reported eight civilian deaths, over a hundred injuries, and widespread destruction of both public and private property across the city. For all the chaos, it appeared the GNU had once again survived, emerging from one of the most threatening confrontations in its four-year history of lurching from one crisis to the next. However that proved to be a mirage. On 16 May, fed up with militia infighting, collapsing services, and a host of grievances, protesters poured into the streets of Tripoli in a rare public outburst—united by a single demand: Dbeibah and his government must go. Under mounting pressure and fear, three ministers resigned, while the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) Parliament announced it would begin the process of replacing both the prime minister and his GNU administration. Meanwhile, the Tripoli-based High Council of State accused Dbeibah of losing public trust and openly called for his resignation. Dbeibah's 18 May televised address was widely derided. Framing the violence as an effort to rid the capital of militias, the prime minister attempted to deflect blame. But many reminded him that he had empowered Ghneiwa himself—appointing him as head of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) and granting his militia $132 million in 2022 alone. Rather than calm tensions, Dbeibah's words sparked ridicule and disbelief. Accusations that demonstrators were paid agitators only deepened public anger. The rare wave of public demonstrations has largely subsided, settling into a quieter pattern of weekly protests held every Friday night—for now, at least. Several factors contributed to the lull, including the Eid al-Adha holidays and a rush to banks amid an unusual window of cash availability. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives (HoR) proceeded with hearings for 14 self-nominated candidates—all men—vying to replace Dbeibah as prime minister. But the process has since stalled, with little expectation that any of the contenders will be chosen. Concerns over a lack of UN and international recognition appear to have convinced the chamber to pause its plans—for the time being. In the background, the UN mission in Libya quietly released an advisory report prepared by its hand-picked committee, outlining four potential roadmaps to end the country's drawn-out transitional phase and pave the way for elections. All four proposals converge on one key recommendation: the GNU must be replaced by a new government tasked solely with organizing national elections within a fresh 24-month transitional period—arguably too long for a country in crisis, but perhaps the most realistic option under current conditions. UN envoy Hanna Tetteh is expected to brief the Security Council on 24 June, likely seeking its endorsement of the advisory committee's recommendations—without committing to any single option. The approach would give her the flexibility to shape a roadmap she deems most viable. Meanwhile, the GNU may be weakened, but it's far from finished. Dbeibah, backed by well-armed Misrata militias, is unlikely to step aside quietly—raising the spectre of a new, potentially more destructive round of conflict in an already battered Tripoli. Dbeibah and the GNU aren't going anywhere anytime soon. The militias still hold sway in the capital, public funds will continue to be squandered, and the prospect of a new government remains distant at best. As one Western diplomat, speaking anonymously, put it bluntly: 'No one wants to be seen as endorsing a failed state—but no one's willing to fix it either.'
Libya Review
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Anti-Government Protests Sweep Western Libya for 3rd Week
For the third Friday in a row, massive crowds have taken to the streets of Libya's capital, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba and the dissolution of his Government of National Unity. The protests, now entering their third week, have become one of the most sustained and serious challenges to the current leadership since it came to power in 2021. Thousands of protesters gathered in Tripoli's Martyrs' Square waving red cards, a symbolic demand for the government to step down, and chanting slogans such as 'The people want the fall of the government.' The demonstrators accuse Dbaiba of failing to deliver on his promises to improve security, fight corruption, and lead the country to elections after years of political division. The latest wave of anger was sparked by the killing of militia leader Abdulghani al-Kikli, known as 'Ghneiwa,' in mid-May. The incident led to violent clashes among rival armed groups after Dbaiba suddenly dissolved the Stability Support Apparatus, which Ghneiwa had headed. The resulting chaos revealed how deeply militias still control large parts of the capital and how little authority the civilian government actually holds. In a televised address, Dbaiba called the violence a 'shared mistake' and blamed the ongoing instability on rogue armed factions. However, many Libyans saw his words as weak and evasive. Fueling further outrage are revelations that cancer medication was imported from Iraq under pressure from militias—an admission made by Dbaiba himself, which has raised new questions about corruption and government complicity. What began in Tripoli has now spread to other cities, including Misrata, Zawiya, Sabratha, and Surman. Misrata, Dbaiba's hometown, witnessed significant protests last week, signaling that dissatisfaction is not limited to the capital. At the same time, several government ministers have resigned, suggesting that Dbaiba is losing support from within his own administration. As the protests grow in size and scope, Libya's House of Representatives has moved to form a new unified government. Lawmakers met in Benghazi this week to hear proposals from 12 candidates vying to lead the next phase of the country's political transition. Whether this move will calm public anger or further deepen divisions remains to be seen. What is clear is that Libya is at a political crossroads. With the public demanding change and institutions showing signs of fracture, the coming weeks may determine whether Dbaiba can cling to power or if the protest movement marks the end of his leadership. Tags: Abdul Hamid DbaibalibyaparliamentProteststripoliWest Libya
Libya Review
13-05-2025
- Health
- Libya Review
6 Killed in Libyan Capital, Tripoli Amid Armed Militia Clashes
Intense armed clashes broke out in the Libyan capital late Monday, claiming multiple lives and plunging parts of Tripoli into chaos. The Emergency and Support Medical Center in Tripoli confirmed it has retrieved six bodies from the sites of heavy fighting around the Abu Salim district. Residents reported hours of gunfire and explosions after news spread of the reported killing of militia commander Abdulghani al-Kikli, widely known as 'Ghneiwa,' who led the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) – one of Tripoli's most powerful armed groups. The violence erupted swiftly following Al-Kikli's death, with witnesses describing volleys of small arms and heavy weaponry echoing across southern neighborhoods of the city. . Local media and officials indicated that the clashes involved rival factions vying for influence after Ghneiwa's apparent assassination inside a military base. Abu Salim, a densely populated area that was the stronghold of Ghneiwa's SSA militia, saw the fiercest fighting. Armed units linked to the Government of National Unity (GNU) moved quickly to secure key positions amid the unrest. By midnight, streets normally teeming with traffic were deserted as the Interior Ministry urged residents to stay indoors for safety, and power outages hit several neighborhoods due to the fighting. In response to the outbreak of violence, Libya's Ministry of Health raised the alert level at all hospitals in Tripoli, directing hospitals and medical centers to remain on high emergency footing to treat any casualties. Ambulance and emergency teams were deployed across the capital as the overnight clashes intensified. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense of the GNU announced early Tuesday that its forces had fully secured the Abu Salim area, ending the security operation successfully after regaining control of the militia's headquarters. . The Defense Ministry's statement declared the immediate threat contained and emphasized that operations were ongoing to 'ensure the sustained security and stability' of the capital. Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah praised the army and police units for 'imposing state authority' and restoring order in Tripoli, underscoring the government's resolve to prevent further militia violence. By Tuesday morning, calm had largely returned to Tripoli following the night of unrest. . Security forces patrolled formerly embattled streets of Abu Salim, and only sporadic bursts of gunfire were heard as remaining tensions eased. Municipal authorities reported that public life was gradually normalizing: the capital's main airport, which had briefly rerouted flights as a precaution, prepared to resume normal operations, and the University of Tripoli announced classes would remain suspended until stability is assured. Residents cautiously emerged to assess damage, relieved that a tentative peace had been restored after one of Tripoli's most intense episodes of fighting in months. This sudden flare-up highlights the persistent volatility in Libya's security landscape, even under the GNU based in Tripoli. Abdulghani 'Ghneiwa' al-Kikli had been a central figure in Tripoli's patchwork of militias, which have periodically clashed despite a nationwide ceasefire in 2020. The Stability Support Apparatus, nominally under Libya's Presidential Council, is one of several armed factions that grew in power during years of conflict and political division. Libya has endured little lasting stability since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, and the country remains split between rival administrations in the west and east. While major open warfare has paused, Tripoli's latest spate of violence underscores the fragile peace and the challenge of reining in militias in the quest for lasting security. Authorities in the capital have reaffirmed their commitment to prevent escalation, and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya has urged all parties to exercise restraint and protect civilians as the city returns to a cautious calm. Tags: ClashesGNUlibyatripoli
