Latest news with #SupportForceApparatus
LBCI
13-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Armed clashes erupt in Libya's Tripoli after reported killing of armed group leader
Armed clashes erupted on Monday evening and gunfire has echoed in the city center and other parts of the Libyan capital Tripoli following reports that an armed group leader was killed, three residents told Reuters by phone. The leader, Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, is the commander of Support Force Apparatus SSA, one of Tripoli's powerful armed groups, based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighborhood. SSA is under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdulhamid Dbeibah through a United Nations-backed process. GNU's interior ministry called on citizens in a short statement to stay at home "for their own safety." Following the ministry's call, drivers started speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets. GNU media platform said early on Tuesday that the defense ministry had fully taken control of Abu Salim neighborhood. Reuters
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Six killed in Tripoli clashes after killing of militia leader
The killing of the head of one of Libya's most powerful militias, which has been accused of abusing asylum seekers and faced allegations of crimes against humanity, has triggered armed clashes in Tripoli, resulting in at least six deaths. Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, better known as Gheniwa, the commander of Support Force Apparatus SSA, one of Tripoli's powerful armed groups, based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighbourhood, was killed on Monday night at the headquarters of the 444th Combat Brigade of the Libyan army, a source in one of the country's security forces told Al Wasat television. Kikli, one of the capital's most influential militia leaders, had recently been involved in disputes with rival armed groups, including factions linked to the city of Misrata. His SSA is under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the government of national unity (GNU) of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah through a UN-backed process. Armed clashes erupted overnight and gunfire echoed in the city centre and other parts of Tripoli after reports of Kikli's death. Libya's Emergency Medicine and Support Centre said: 'Six bodies have been retrieved from the sites of clashes around Abu Salim. The GNU's interior ministry called on citizens to stay at home 'for their own safety'. After the ministry's call, drivers started speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets. One man told Reuters: 'I heard heavy gunfire and I saw red lights in the sky.' . Other residents reported gunfire echoing in their neighbourhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin. The UN mission in Libya urged all parties to 'immediately cease fighting and restore calm', reminding them of their obligation to protect civilians. 'Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes,' it said. Amnesty International and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) have described Kikli's group as one of the main perpetrators of violence inside Libya's detention centres. According to a UN security council panel of experts report in December 2024, Kikli was a central figure in Libya's balance of power, playing a key role in militia financing through corrupt practices. As leader of the SSA, he was accused of extrajudicial killings, torture and serious human rights violations. His name appears in a 189-page complaint filed in 2022 by the ECCHR to the international criminal court, listing him among potential co-perpetrators of crimes against humanity linked to the systematic abuse of migrants and refugees. Diana Eltahawy, the deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said in a report published in 2022: 'It can come as no surprise that al-Kikli's militia is yet again involved in horrific crimes – whether against migrants and refugees or Libyans. For over a decade, militias under his command terrorised people in the Tripoli neighbourhood of Abu Salim through enforced disappearances, torture, unlawful killings and other crimes under international law. He should be investigated and, if there is enough admissible evidence, prosecuted in a fair trial.' In March, a photo shared on X by a Libyan activist showed Kikli in Rome, at the European hospital, visiting a GNU minister, Adel Juma, who was being treated there after surviving an attack in Tripoli on 12 February. Libya is a major transit point for Europe-bound asylum seekers. For years, human rights organisations have documented how migrants trapped in the country are at the mercy of militias and smugglers. Tens of thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa are kept indefinitely in overcrowded refugee detention centres where they are subjected to abuses and torture. The country, a major oil producer in the Mediterranean, has had little stability since a 2011 uprising backed by Nato. Libya split in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions. Major fighting paused with a ceasefire in 2020 but efforts to end the political crisis have failed, with major factions occasionally joining forces in armed clashes and competing for control over Libya's substantial economic resources. Reuters contributed to this report
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Armed Clashes Erupt in Libya's Tripoli After Reported Killing of Armed Group Leader
Armed clashes erupted on Monday evening and gunfire has echoed in the city center and other parts of the Libyan capital Tripoli following reports that an armed group leader was killed, three residents told Reuters by phone. The leader, Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, is the commander of Support Force Apparatus SSA, one of Tripoli's powerful armed groups, based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighborhood. SSA is under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah through a United Nations-backed process. The GNU's interior ministry called on citizens in a short statement to stay at home "for their own safety." Following the ministry's call, drivers started speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets. The GNU media platform said early on Tuesday that the defense ministry had fully taken control of Abu Salim neighborhood. "I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky," a resident said on condition of anonymity. The other two residents said the gunfire was echoing all over their neighborhoods of Abu Salim and Salaheddin. The University of Tripoli Presidency announced on Facebook the suspension of studies, exams, and administrative work at all faculties, departments and offices until further notice. The UN Mission in Libya urged all parties to "immediately cease fighting and restore calm," reminding them of their obligation to protect civilians. "Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes," it said. Libya, a major oil producer in the Mediterranean, has had little stability since a 2011 uprising backed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The country split in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions. Major fighting paused with a ceasefire in 2020 but efforts to end the political crisis have failed, with major factions occasionally joining forces in armed clashes and competing for control over Libya's substantial economic resources. Tripoli and the northwest, where the GNU and most major state institutions are based, are home to rival armed factions that have repeatedly fought.
CNN
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
UN mission in Libya calls for de-escalation after fighting erupts in capital
The United Nations mission in Libya called for de-escalation Monday after fighting erupted in the North African nation's capital. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is 'alarmed by the unfolding security situation in Tripoli with intense fighting with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas,' it said in a post on X late Monday. 'The Mission calls on all parties to immediately cease fighting and restore calm, and reminds all parties of their obligations to protect civilians at all times,' UNSMIL added. 'Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes.' Gunfire was heard in Tripoli as reports emerged that a prominent commander, Abdulghani Kikli of the Support Force Apparatus SSA, one of the capital's most powerful armed groups, was killed, Reuters reported. The Support Force Apparatus SSA is a state-backed security institution affiliated with the Presidential Council, according to its website. Libya has been embroiled in a political conflict since long-time dictator Moammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, leading to the emergence of several armed groups. While a 2020 ceasefire brought some peace, the country remains fragile and divided, with the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) ruling in Tripoli and the northwest and the Government of National Stability ruling in Benghazi in the east. Armed clashes have occasionally been reported, with major factions vying for control over Libya's substantial oil and gas reserves. Amid reports of violence, the GNU's health ministry told local hospitals and medical centers in Tripoli to prepare for emergencies, according to a post on its Facebook account. The GNU's interior ministry called on citizens in a short statement to stay at home 'for their own safety,' according to Reuters. The University of Tripoli Presidency also announced on Facebook the suspension of all studies, exams, and administrative work until further notice. The latest instability comes as the Trump administration mulls plans to deport migrants to Libya from the United States. CNN first reported the administration was communicating with Libya to have the country take migrants from the US. The administration appeared to be moving forward with those plans as recently as Wednesday, when migrants believed to be bound for Libya sat for hours on a bus before abruptly being returned to a detention facility. The White House declined to comment on those flight plans. CNN's Irene Nasser and Alex Stambaugh contributed reporting.
Al Arabiya
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Armed clashes erupt in Libya's Tripoli after reported killing of armed group leader
Armed clashes erupted on Monday evening and gunfire echoed in the city center and other parts of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, following reports that an armed group leader was killed, three residents told Reuters by phone. The leader, Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, is the commander of the Support Force Apparatus (SSA), one of Tripoli's powerful armed groups, based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighborhood. The SSA is under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdulhamid Dbeibah through a United Nations-backed process. The GNU's interior ministry called on citizens in a short statement to stay at home 'for their own safety.' Following the ministry's call, drivers started speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets. The GNU media platform said early Tuesday that the defense ministry had fully taken control of the Abu Salim neighborhood. 'I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky,' a resident said on condition of anonymity. The other two residents said the gunfire was echoing all over their neighborhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin. The University of Tripoli Presidency announced on Facebook the suspension of studies, exams, and administrative work at all faculties, departments, and offices until further notice. The UN Mission in Libya urged all parties to 'immediately cease fighting and restore calm,' reminding them of their obligation to protect civilians. 'Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes,' it said. Libya, a major oil producer in the Mediterranean, has had little stability since a 2011 uprising backed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The country split in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions. Major fighting paused with a ceasefire in 2020, but efforts to end the political crisis have failed, with major factions occasionally joining forces in armed clashes and competing for control over Libya's substantial economic resources. Tripoli and the northwest, where the internationally recognized GNU and most major state institutions are based, are home to rival armed factions that have repeatedly fought.
