Libyan PM Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah vows policy of zero tolerance for militias
Tripoli, May 18 (UNI) Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah has vowed not to tolerate militias he called "brutal and unjust," and expressed his hope for a brighter future for Libya.
In a video speech broadcast on Saturday, Dbeibah said militias have "expanded into all cities and villages" and now dominate Libya's "financial, economic, and even social landscape."
Some, he added, had "exploited their influence," overpowering the state, and fell into three groups: those who withdrew, those who joined state institutions, and those who "relied on blackmailing the state."
Earlier this week, Tripoli witnessed its most intense clashes in years after the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, also known as "Gheniwa," the leader of the powerful Stability Support Apparatus (SSA). Al-Kikli was killed in a facility operated by the 444 Brigade, a militia aligned with Prime Minister Dbeibah. His death led to violent confrontations between rival armed groups, resulting in at least eight civilian deaths and the detention of numerous SSA fighters.
Referring to the May 12 clashes, Dbeibah said the operation was "carried out smoothly ... and is considered a successful operation ... despite some recent violations." He accused al-Kikli and the SSA of torture, illegal imprisonments, arbitrary arrests, and controlling six banks.
"My goal is a Libya without militias and corruption ... a state of law and institutions," he said.
Libya has been plagued by instability since the 2011 ousting of Muammar Gaddafi. Despite govt crackdowns and operations, the country remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, with militias wielding considerable power amid ongoing instability.
The recent events in Tripoli underscore the challenges faced by the central government in asserting control and the complexities involved in dismantling entrenched militia networks. UNI/XINHUA ANV SSP
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