In the Libyan capital Tripoli, the conflict between two groups has turned into the heaviest fighting in two years.
(Photo by Hamza Turkia/IMAGO/Xinhua)
At least 32 people were killed in heavy fighting in the Libyan capital on Saturday and more than 160 were injured, according to hospitals. Militias fired at each other with anti-aircraft guns and rockets in several residential areas of the city of two million people. Some combat zones were still inaccessible to Red Crescent volunteers on Sunday, so the number of casualties is likely to be much higher. The renewed war for Tripoli began with an attack on a pro-government militia on Zawia Street in the center.
At the same time, supporters of Fathi Bashagha’s parallel government attacked strategically important checkpoints west and south of Tripoli. After hits at gas stations and burning streets, black smoke hung over the city in the afternoon, and panicked people sought shelter in cafes, restaurants or at home. Since February, two governments have claimed power in the oil-rich country of six million people.
The extremely wealthy businessman Abdul Hamid Dabaiba was appointed interim prime minister for a year in January 2021 by an election commission mediated by the United Nations. But the elections planned for December last year were canceled at the last moment. Militias had threatened violence because Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam, the warlord Khalifa Haftar and finally Dabaiba were unacceptable candidates for each of the two former warring factions.
Contrary to his promise, Dabaiba nevertheless remained in office and, thanks to lavish payments of money, won the favor of the cartel of the capital’s militias. After the failure of their military offensive on Tripoli, Haftar and the speaker of parliament Aguila Saleh are now trying to nominate a counter-premier. But the former interior minister, Bashagha, who was appointed in the spring, failed a third time to get to Tripoli with it.
Both sides must now fear the displeasure of the population
After the fighting died down, Prime Minister Dabaiba visited military units stationed at critical points. Rumors had previously been spread that his government plane had left Tripoli Mitiga Airport for Tunis. But the talks with the fighters, who were heavily armed and surprised by the fierceness of the fighting, served not only as proof of his presence in Tripoli. Dabaiba assured the journalists accompanying him that the fighting was preceded by talks with the parallel government of Bashagha. Both sides have to fear the resentment of the population because of the many civilian casualties and the destruction of entire streets.
“In order to prevent bloodshed, I proposed a long time ago that elections be held at the end of this year,” said Dabaiba. A government spokesman said the third round of negotiations was scheduled to take place in the port city of Misrata on Friday. “But Bashagha’s negotiating team called off the meeting at the last moment,” says Mohamed Hammouda, spokesman for the Libyan government of national unity.
Turkish military aid for the rulers in Tripoli could once again have been decisive on Saturday. After the Turkish attacks Bayraktar– Drones broke up groups loyal to Bashagha from marching on Tripoli.