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Libya Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Herald
444th Combat Brigade Commander Hamza celebrates defeat of SSA militia's corrupt ‘‘empire''
Speaking to the Operations Officers of the Libyan Army, Commander of the 444th Combat Brigade (and head of Military Intelligence), Mahmoud Hamza, congratulated his officers on their unique and unparalleled victory that he said they should be proud to have achieved. He congratulated them for 'overthrowing the Ghnewa Empire.' The late Ghnewa is the head of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) militia which was disbanded in a military operation last week. This came after the killing of Ghnewa in contested circumstances during or after a meeting with Hamza and other Aldabaiba aligned military commanders. Ghnewa's killing, the disbanding of the SSA, and the takeover of its bases precipitated militia clashes and demonstration and a week of instability in Tripoli where the government could have collapsed. – Hamza said the Libyan army, of which his 444th Brigade is a member, has uprooted the long-standing corruption of Ghnewa's empire from the largest geographical area in the capital, Tripoli, Abusleem, after wreaking havoc for a decade and a half. – The criminal Ghnewa used to dominate Chiefs of Staff for Land Forces, the SSA, the Internal Security Agency, Audit Bureau, Administrative Control Authority, and he used to get involved in all contracts and coerce and threaten all those in charge, his men stealing in millions and billions. - The Libyan army, with its meticulous military operations, toppled in just one hour, an unjust empire with all the elements of its injustice. - And know, that the fall of Ghnewa was not limited to him. All the countries that exploited him and their intelligence and their intelligence movement fell behind him and were cut off inside our land. We brought them down too. – A few months ago, he brought 10 planes full of ammunition. He was preparing. He has mercenaries and a team from Eastern Europe. – He was another copy of Kany family (of Tarhuna). Killings and mass killings and mass graves. The Libyan people will be surprised by these. We have proof to be revealed soon. – Lutfi Al-Harari, the former Internal Security Agency (ISA) head, used to exploit the ISA to make up lies against people. He corruptly dominated this the most important arm of the state for years. – Ghnewa's brother the ''Kabus'' ( the nightmare ) corruptly made money in the millions and billions, extorting Libyans. – You should be proud the Libyan Army one day got a corrupt unjust militia out from the centre of Tripoli. – We captured tens and hundreds of alcohol and drugs quantities used by these corrupt militias. – They were a reality imposed on the state. They thought their corrupt dominance will endure. – We (the Libyan Army) are civil servants. Regular soldiers with serial numbers. We have not killed anyone or been unjust or stolen from anyone. We are in the path of building the state. Building a state is not easy. You have seen what has happened in Libya since 2011: Daesh, militias, people and fuel smuggling. – They will ask why did I sit and meet with them? We had no choice. We were forced by the status quo we inherited and for the public good as part of our job. - We will continue to secure people, and you will be shown the shocking facts of the effects of tyranny and domination over innocent people. . Nine Corpses found in mortuary fridges in Al-Khadra Hospital – disbanded SSA militia say they are Hafter's mercenaries ''For the first time, Libyans have hope to get rid of these militias, and the dream of the rule of law and institutions is almost a reality soon'': Aldabaiba What we did in Abusleem was a necessary step to end a presence that had gone too far in violating the law and was linked to gross human rights violations: Aldabaiba Aldabaiba meets UK ambassador, says recent security operation came within efforts to enforce law and end an irregular presence Tripoli demonstrations start off peaceful in Martyr Square – end up with Molotov cocktails and fatality at Cabinet Office ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Libya report to UN Security Council UNSMIL calls for independent investigation into HoR member Dersi's disappearance and circulating torture video General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons says received reports of possible mass graves in Abusleem Zoo Presidency Council decrees unconditional ceasefire, freezes all Aldabaiba Tripoli government's recent military/security decrees 444th Brigade and Military Intelligence head Mahmoud Hamza's narrative of the SDF / RADA Tripoli clash Images of Abdelghani Ghnewa's funeral in Kikla appear as his SSA militia mourn him Gunfire at demonstrations calling for Aldabaiba's downfall, nervous ceasefire holding as calm returns to Tripoli The time of parallel security services is over, there is no place in Libya except for regular institutions of the army and police: Aldabaiba Tripoli PM Aldabaiba appoints Mustafa Al-Wahishi as the new head of the Internal Security Agency Tripoli PM Aldabaiba decrees reorganisation of some security units following Ghnewa Kikly's reported killing Ceasefire announced after heavy overnight fighting in Tripoli Calm returns after overnight Tripoli clashes as major militia leader reportedly killed
Libya Herald
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Herald
‘‘For the first time, Libyans have hope to get rid of these militias, and the dream of the rule of law and institutions is almost a reality soon'': Aldabaiba
Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, made a televised speech to the Libyan people last night after a week of militia clashes, deaths and demonstrations calling for the downfall of his government. Here is a summary of the 30-minute speech: - Aldabaiba admitted he was late in coming out and speaking to the Libyan people, but he said he did not want his words to be understood and interpreted in a reverse way to avoid inflaming the situation. – The militias have dominated Libyan society on all levels since 2011 and have become even bigger than this state and when our government came to office they found this reality in front of them. – Some militias left their militias and went back to their civilian lives. Others reintegrated in the state security apparatus and bureaucracy. The third group remained militias. – Abdelghani Ghnewa Al-Kikly (The Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) militia leader) was based in a densely populated area (Abusleem), (his brother) controlled six banks in the state and anyone who disagreed with him would go to prisons or a cemetery. (Ghnewa died last week in contested circumstances after a meeting with Aldabaiba's military commanders. Aldabaiba shed no light on the circumstances of Ghnewa's death). – Ghnewa had prisons and cells including in Abusleem Zoo. His nephew assassinated 15 people barbarically. They cut people up with saws. They imprison people in jails 1 metre square. (The Aldabaiba government reports of mass graves in the Zoo) – Ministers are summoned by Ghnewa and are coerced and blackmailed or they were imprisoned. - The medicine that came from Iraq was caused by the Ghnewa militias after pressure on the (now suspended) Minister of Health Ramadan Abujanah. But we had opened Letters of Credit to import medicine in the millions from advanced states -I cannot continue this situation (of militia dominance). It has become a point of shame. If I continue to deal with them, I will become like them. - What happened in the Abusleem area that night (the takeover of SSA bases by government security forces aligned to Aldabaiba) was a successful operation in a quick time and without any damage, despite the densely populated area. - I say to the people of Abusleem that injustice has been lifted from you and I will support the region more than before - After the Abusleem operation, we issued a number of decisions, foremost of which was the appointment of the new head of the Internal Security Service. - What happened the day after the Abusleem operation was a common mistake (in taking over bases belonging to the SSA and to the Judicial Police) and there was a rush to implement the decisions issued to impose the authority of the state. - If I had intended war I would have left my house in Ben Ashour, an area of clashes - We were surprised by the report of the International Criminal Court on the crimes of Osama Ngeem, who is responsible for prisons, so how can we trust the rapist (Ngeem) of a 14-year-old girl? (Ngeem is head of the Judicial Police and is supported by the Sug Il Juma Special Deterrence Force (SDF /RADA) militia led by Abdelraouf Kara and by Ghnewa.) – Ngeem built up his Judicial Police into a militia – beyond just transporting and looking after prisoners - I cannot accept the continued presence of the criminal Osama Njeem after I read it in the report of the International Criminal Court . - I did not seek to get Njeem out of Italy, I do not know him, and I have never met him before. (Njeem was arrested by the Italian authorities upon the issue of an International Criminal Court warrant. But instead of handing him over to the ICC, the Italian authorities put him on a flight to Tripoli). – I broke up the anti-migration force, which in itself became a militia, and merged it with the Interior Ministry - The barrier of fear (from militias) is broken and blackmailers and criminals must not be defended - What we have worked on in 4 years is very great services, from trade exhibitions and aviation (resumption of flights), reopening of embassies, and we breathed a sigh of relief - For the first time, I say that you have hope to get rid of these militias, and the dream of the rule of law and institutions is almost a reality soon. - I call on militia members to join state institutions and take what they lack rightly - My project is continuing. Any party that sides with the state we will welcome and any party that continues to blackmail and practice corruption, we will not leave alone - Attempting to sow discord with my family (the people of) in Sug Il Juma (where Kara's SDF/RADA is based and supported) is not possible - From the first day in office, I raised the flag of no more war between Libyans - Those who do not want the capital Tripoli to stabilize are known and took advantage of the presence of the battalions (militias) and the Abusleem operation and started thinking about a coup project (against Aldabaiba's government) - The truth of the matter is that House of Representatives Speaker Ageela Saleh, High State Council contesting head Khaled Al-Mishri and Hafter want Tripoli and Libya to remain at the mercy of the militias in order to support them and act through them. - The demonstrations that took place yesterday are disturbing, but I endured them because I know that some of them are real, but many of them are paid demonstrators. - The majority of the international community, which wants a stable Libya, has supported our position and I have received many calls expressing its support for this process. - Many delegations came to me today (yesterday) because they saw that there is a glimmer of hope in the end of these unjust militias that have dominated the necks of Libyans. . What we did in Abusleem was a necessary step to end a presence that had gone too far in violating the law and was linked to gross human rights violations: Aldabaiba Aldabaiba meets UK ambassador, says recent security operation came within efforts to enforce law and end an irregular presence Tripoli demonstrations start off peaceful in Martyr Square – end up with Molotov cocktails and fatality at Cabinet Office ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Libya report to UN Security Council UNSMIL calls for independent investigation into HoR member Dersi's disappearance and circulating torture video General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons says received reports of possible mass graves in Abusleem Zoo Presidency Council decrees unconditional ceasefire, freezes all Aldabaiba Tripoli government's recent military/security decrees 444th Brigade and Military Intelligence head Mahmoud Hamza's narrative of the SDF / RADA Tripoli clash Images of Abdelghani Ghnewa's funeral in Kikla appear as his SSA militia mourn him Gunfire at demonstrations calling for Aldabaiba's downfall, nervous ceasefire holding as calm returns to Tripoli The time of parallel security services is over, there is no place in Libya except for regular institutions of the army and police: Aldabaiba Tripoli PM Aldabaiba appoints Mustafa Al-Wahishi as the new head of the Internal Security Agency Tripoli PM Aldabaiba decrees reorganisation of some security units following Ghnewa Kikly's reported killing Ceasefire announced after heavy overnight fighting in Tripoli Calm returns after overnight Tripoli clashes as major militia leader reportedly killed
Libya Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Herald
General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons says received reports of possible mass graves in Abusleem Zoo
The General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons reported yesterday that it has received reports from families of missing persons, alleging the possible presence of mass graves inside Abusleem Zoo. The Zoo, located in Abusleem, was under the control of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) headed previously by Abdelghani ''Ghnewa'' Al-Kikly. Ghnewa was killed in contested circumstances Monday 12 May during or after a meeting with military commanders aligned to the Tripoli based Libyan government headed by Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba. The contested circumstances of Ghnewa's death led to intense militia clashes in Tripoli. The death of Ghnewa and the disintegration of his SSA militia has meant that there is now open access to the Zoo, previously closed off by his forces. Calls on missing persons families to submit reports to prosecution offices Based on these reports, the Authority calls on the families of missing persons to submit their reports to the relevant prosecution offices and refer them to the Authority. This will enable the Authority to begin its work after being assigned by the Public Prosecution, starting next week, to conduct field investigations and surveys at the site, using specialized teams and the necessary scanning equipment. Possible presence of mass graves Initial reports from the families of the victims indicate serious indications of the possible presence of mass graves, which necessitates handling the matter with the utmost caution and legal and humanitarian responsibility. In this context, the Authority called on all families of missing persons who have not yet contacted it to submit their relevant information and reports through official channels. This will support search and investigation efforts and enable the Authority to expand its scope and reach the largest possible number of cases. The Authority affirmed its full commitment to the right of victims and their families to know the fate of their children and said it will inform the public of the results of its investigations once the legal and technical procedures are completed. . Tripoli based Libyan government accepts ICC's jurisdiction on alleged crimes in its territory from 2011 to the end of 2027 ICC issues arrest warrant against Osama Njeem for crimes against humanity, war crimes – Njeem briefly arrested in Italy, freed and transported to Tripoli – without ICC's approval ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Libya report to UN Security Council
Shafaq News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Tripoli erupts: Clashes intensify as civilians call for safe corridors
Shafaq News/ Armed clashes escalated on Wednesday in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, between forces affiliated with the Government of National Unity and rival units from the Special Deterrence Force. Fighting broke out in several neighborhoods, including Janzur, Al-Riqata, and Garyan. Civilians, including children and patients in need of medical care, issued urgent appeals for the establishment of humanitarian corridors. A source from the Ministry of Defense in the unity government pointed out that a gradual truce had begun to take hold in certain areas in an effort to ease the security situation. According to the Libyan Ambulance and Emergency Service, the ongoing clashes have severely disrupted evacuation and medical response efforts. Officials reported receiving multiple distress calls from trapped civilians but said many areas remained inaccessible due to the intensity of the fighting. EgyptAir canceled its scheduled flight from Cairo to Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport, citing instability in the capital. It is the first airline to suspend service since the current round of violence began. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the clashes and the continued mobilization of armed groups, calling on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and pursue dialogue aimed at resolving disputes peacefully. The escalation follows the May 12 assassination of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, known as 'Ghnewa,' head of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA). His killing—reportedly by forces linked to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba—triggered some of the heaviest fighting Tripoli has seen in years. Dbaiba-aligned units responded by dismantling SSA positions, taking control of key areas, and arresting dozens of fighters. Libya has remained mired in conflict since the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. The power vacuum that followed led to the rise of competing governments and armed factions. In 2014, the country effectively split between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by local militias and foreign actors. Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2020, political divisions persist. The internationally recognized Government of National Unity is based in Tripoli, while a parallel administration continues to operate from the east.
Libya Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Herald
Calm returns after overnight Tripoli clashes as major militia leader reportedly killed
Calm seems to have returned to Tripoli this morning after overnight clashes between various state-recognised militias and army forces from within Tripoli – with support from Misrata based forces. After 9 pm Tripoli time, the public were advised by the Tripoli government to stay at home. Shops closed and the city was near deserted as shots were heard in the distance. Schools and universities announced they were closed and Mitiga airport flights were halted by airliners. The varying narratives The most widely circulated narrative says that Abdelghani Ghnewa Al-Kikly, leader of the powerful Tripoli state-recognised militia, the Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA), based in the Abusleem district, attended a meeting in the Tikbali barracks in Salah Al-Deen, south of Tripoli. Tikbali is controlled by the 444 Brigade, a brigade that is not considered a militia as it is headed Mahmoud Hamza, who, unlike most other top militias, is not a warlord who had made his name fighting in the 2011 revolution. He is government appointed. It is considered the closest thing to a state army. The narratives differ as to why Ghnewa, and six members of his militia, variously referred to as his entourage or bodyguards, were at Tikbali. The most accepted theory is that they were there for negotiations with Hamza and Abdelsalam Al-Zubi, Aldabaiba's Deputy Defence Minister, and leaders of the Misrata-based 111 Brigade to de-escalate the tensions in Tripoli, and elsewhere, over the last few days and weeks. Cutting Ghnewa down to size? What this de-escalation entailed and what was requested of Ghnewa, is still vague. Ghnewa has been overreaching himself territorially over the years by extending his operations to beyond the Western / Nefusa Mountains and Khoms. There have been recent clashes with him in Khoms and the Gharian. He and his followers, headed mostly by extended family members from his relatively small Western Mountain homeland town of Kikla, have also been overreaching themselves in the state. They have been increasingly forcing their personnel into many state agencies, development and investment funds, telecoms agencies and diplomatic missions. This disproportionate influence by SSA members has been resented by the Aldabaiba government and other cities and militias. The Tikbali negotiations went wrong? The theory goes that the Tikbali negotiations were unsuccessful and Ghnewa either refused to de-escalate, or threatened to use force, or that negotiations turned into a fraught argument which ascended into a macho flexing of muscles and finally into an unintended shootout. Unconfirmed deaths? It is during this assumed shootout that Ghnewa and his six personnel were supposedly killed. Social media images have shown a photo purporting to be the corpse of a dead Ghnewa. However, the Tripoli authorities have failed to confirm or deny this. Unconfirmed social media photos of Ghnewa's corpse At the time of publishing, it is still unconfirmed that Ghnewa has been killed. The social media photos of his corpse are unconfirmed by the Tripoli government or its official health agencies. In Islam, the usual custom is to bury the dead as soon as possible. But there has been no sign of Ghnewa or his delegation – nor of their corpses. If they are dead, the government could be delaying the release of their corpses to allow for it to gain full control of the situation and pre-empt and mitigate any possible counterreaction by Ghnewa's supporters, family and tribe. It could be buying time to control the narrative by enforcing a cooling-off period. Confirmed deaths The only confirmed deaths by the Recovery Unit of the Corpses Department of the Emergency and Support Medicine Centre (ESMC) were 6 bodies from clash points in the vicinity of Abusleem area. These showed bodies being recovered out of military vehicles around Ghnewa's Abusleem headquarters. Was it a setup? An alternative theory is that Ghnewa was set up and walked into a carefully prepared trap. He was presented with options during this meeting that he was bound to reject, spiralling the situation into a shootout. Other viewpoints suggest an attempt was made to arrest Ghnewa at the end of the meeting, which his bodyguards predictably resisted. At least one relative of Ghnewa has posted that the meeting was a trap and that Ghnewa was set up. Militia leaders and government officials have met with each other tens of times since the 2011 revolution, and it is taken for granted that meetings for negotiations come with guaranteed safe passage. The Aldabaiba government attempting to own the ''victory''? The announcement this morning by the Tripoli based and Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba-led Ministry of Defence that the military operation has been successfully completed seems to lend itself to the narrative that there was much preplanning by Aldabaiba and his aligned forces. There have been numerous video clips over the last few days showing a military buildup into Tripoli. So, a clash of some sort was expected, planned for or even intended all along. Owning the success On the other hand, the Aldabaiba regime could be attempting to own events that fortuitously went their way. Either way, Aldabaiba is putting a positive spin on events – with the government and its aligned forces coming out of last night's events on top. Why did the SSA collapse so quickly? There has been some surprise at how easily and quickly the SSA collapsed. The perception is that it was one of the strongest militias in Tripoli and hence in Libya. It was expected to put up a strong, deadly and destructive fight – at least in its homeland of Abusleem. Large numbers of injured and deaths would be expected. However, sources in Abusleem and those who visited the area this morning have said that most SSA members had fled or melted into the background. There was no sign of burnt-out vehicles, buildings and spent cartridges – the usual signs of strong clashes. The top echelons have been reported to have either headed to Kikla, their tribal land, or headed to the Tunisian border crossings attempting to escape. Does this mean they saw the end, the writing on the wall? Another view is that the SSA is now comprised of ''kids'' who were simply jumping on the kudos bandwagon of being in the SSA. They are not battle-hardy and were just born at the 2011 revolution. They view is that the best SSA fighters had died in the Hafter war on Tripoli. A further view is that they were caught completely by surprise. Their vanity did not allow them to think the Tripoli government would have the audacity to attack them at the heart of their power centre: Abusleem. Will SSA forces make a comeback? It is for this reason that sources believe that the SSA will not make a comeback under the leadership of the Ghnewa-Kikly clan. Once the warlord figurehead of Abdelghani Ghnewa has gone, the attraction of the powerful leader is no longer there as a pull factor. The news of his possible death seems to have dissolved the SSA – which was overwhelmingly built around Ghnewa's leadership kudos. Mitiga airport flights to resume Airlines have announced this morning their intention to return their aircrafts to Mitiga airport and resume flights from there. It must be pointed out that the Tripoli government did not halt flights or shut down Tripoli's Mitiga airport, but it was the individual airlines who decided to move their aircraft and flights for safety to Misrata airport. Interior ministry: Situation in the Tripoli is safe and stable This morning, the Tripoli Ministry of Interior announced that the situation in the Tripoli is safe and stable, and the security services are performing their duty efficiently in maintaining security and public order. It called on all citizens, especially employees in state institutions, to join their work and contribute to the return of life to normal. It called on all employees of the Ministry to return to their workplaces and adhere to official working hours, in order to ensure the continuity of services and enhance stability. PM Aldabaiba Meanwhile, Tripoli Prime Minister Aldabaiba posted: ''I commend the Ministries of Interior and Defence, and all members of the army and police, for their significant accomplishments in establishing security and imposing state authority in the capital. What has been achieved today confirms that the regular institutions are capable of protecting the nation and preserving the dignity of citizens. It constitutes a decisive step toward eliminating irregular groups (militias) and establishing the principle that there is no place in Libya except for state institutions, and no authority except for the law''. What happens next? The Tripoli government's Defence Ministry announced this morning that it is in full control of Ghnewa's Abusleem district. After the dust settles, the question will be: what happens next? Will the Aldabaiba government leave a vacuum that could be exploited by other parties? Or will it fill the ga?. What will happen to the SSA? Will it be disbanded or will it be rebranded with a new name? Will it be merged into the Interior Ministry or into the 444 Brigade? It must act fast to build on the supposed disassembling of a supposed strong Tripoli militia in favour of accountable state security forces such as the Interior Ministry or the 444 brigade – if it is to strengthen the Libyan state. More power to Trabelsi and 444? If indeed this is the end of the SSA, it will clearly strengthen the Interior Ministry and the 444 brigade. The less unaccountable, warlord-led militias exist in Tripoli and Libya, the stronger the Libyan state. Aldabaiba is stronger? The results of last night's clashes would also make Aldabaiba stronger. They have consolidated his position before other Tripoli militias and viz-a-viz the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ageela Saleh, and Khalifa Hafter. Is Kara next? The ending of the SSA will now direct all focus on the other powerful Tripoli Milita: Abdelraouf Kara's Mitiga based Rada / Special Deterrence Force (SDF). Only with the removal of Kara as its head can a Tripoli government have total control of the capital and move to merge other city's militias into a state security force accountable to the government of the day.
