Armed clashes erupted on Monday (May 12, 2025) night and gunfire has echoed in town heart and different components of the Libyan capital Tripoli following stories that an armed group leader was killed, three residents informed Reuters by cellphone.
The leader, Abdulghani Kikli, often known as Ghaniwa, is the commander of Support Force Apparatus SSA, one of Tripoli’s highly effective armed teams, based mostly in the densely populated Abu Salim neighbourhood.
SSA is beneath the Presidential Council that got here to energy in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdulhamid Dbeibah by a United Nations-backed course of.
GNU’s Interior Ministry referred to as on residents in a brief assertion to remain at dwelling “for their own safety.”
Following the Ministry’s name, drivers began dashing and honking in many Tripoli streets.
GNU media platform mentioned early on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) that the Defense Ministry had absolutely taken management of Abu Salim neighbourhood.
“I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky,” a resident mentioned on situation of anonymity.
The different two residents mentioned the gunfire was echoing throughout their neighbourhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin.
The University of Tripoli Presidency introduced on Facebook the suspension of research, exams, and administrative work in any respect schools, departments and workplaces till additional discover.
The U.N. Mission in Libya urged all events to “immediately cease fighting and restore calm,” reminding them of their obligation to guard civilians.
“Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes,” it mentioned.
Libya, a serious oil producer in the Mediterranean, has had little stability since a 2011 rebellion backed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The nation break up in 2014 between warring japanese and western factions.
Major combating paused with a ceasefire in 2020 however efforts to finish the political disaster have failed, with main factions sometimes becoming a member of forces in armed clashes and competing for management over Libya’s substantial financial sources.
Tripoli and the northwest, the place the internationally recognised GNU and most main state establishments are based mostly, are dwelling to rival armed factions which have repeatedly fought.
Published – May 13, 2025 07:09 am IST
