{"id":1875109,"date":"2025-05-13T20:59:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T18:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pre.efe.com\/?p=1875109"},"modified":"2025-05-15T01:57:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T23:57:16","slug":"libya-reshapes-security-apparatus-militia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pre.efe.com\/en\/latest-news\/2025-05-13\/libya-reshapes-security-apparatus-militia\/","title":{"rendered":"Libya reshapes security apparatus following militia leader\u2019s death in Tripoli clashes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Tripoli, (EFE).- Libya\u2019s Government of National Unity (GNU) announced sweeping security reforms on Tuesday following the death of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, the influential leader of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA), in violent clashes that rocked the capital, Tripoli, the night before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeiba declared that the government would no longer tolerate \u201cchaos and violations,\u201d asserting that only state institutions would handle security matters moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SSA, one of Tripoli\u2019s most powerful armed groups, had played a key role in the city\u2019s volatile security landscape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its leader, Al-Kikli, known as \u201cGhaniwa,\u201d was killed in fierce clashes in the Abu Salim district, a former stronghold of resistance loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and the SSA\u2019s power base. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The sudden escalation forced the closure of schools, the evacuation of nearby areas, and raised alarm among the international observers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dbeiba named Brigadier General Mustafa al-Washishi as the new head of the Internal Security Service, replacing Lotfi al-Harari. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a bid to tighten state control, the prime minister also dismantled the Police Judiciary\u2019s Department of Operations, previously linked to a commander wanted by the International Criminal Court, and transferred its responsibilities to the Ministry of Interior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The controversial Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency was also dissolved and replaced with a new directorate under the Interior Ministry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chaos in Tripoli highlights militia rivalry and government fragility<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The violence erupted just hours after the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) warned of unusual military movements in the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What followed was one of Tripoli\u2019s most intense nights of fighting in recent months: artillery and automatic weapons lit up southern neighborhoods over three hours, centered on Abu Salim and Mashrou. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Emergency services declared maximum alert as civilian casualties mounted, at least six were killed, with more wounded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Kikli\u2019s death appears to have been the result of internal rivalries among militias, though details remain unclear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some local sources suggested sabotage or betrayal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al Ahli Tripoli Football Club, where he served as honorary president, condemned his killing as \u201ca betrayal\u201d and directly blamed armed brigades and the GNU leadership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the GNU swiftly declared it has regained full control of the area, the incident underscores the state\u2019s continued reliance on, and vulnerability to, fractured militias. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite years of attempts to integrate armed groups into Libya\u2019s formal security apparatus, many still operate with considerable autonomy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SSA, though officially sanctioned in 2021, was widely seen as a state-backed militia with political and economic leverage across western Libya. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fragile partner in the fight against instability and migration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For United States policymakers and international observers, the latest unrest in Tripoli highlights the ongoing challenges facing Libya\u2019s transition to statehood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the NATO-backed ouster of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has remained divided between competing administrations: the UN-recognized GNU in the west, based in Tripoli, and a rival government in the east aligned with General Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Haftar has managed to unify most armed forces in eastern Libya under a central command, the west remains fragmented, with dozens of militias competing for territory, resources, and political favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US has supported efforts to stabilize Libya through diplomacy and limited security cooperation, particularly around counterterrorism and migration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disbandment of the Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency, amid criticism of human rights abuse, will likely be watched closely in Washington and Brussels, where migration from Libya\u2019s coast remains a top concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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