The United Nations has referred to as for pressing de-escalation in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, as rival gunmen exchanged hearth within the metropolis’s southern districts after the killing of a robust militia chief, with authorities imposing an emergency lockdown.
The enchantment early on Tuesday got here as residents reported listening to heavy gunfire and explosions throughout a number of neighbourhoods from about 9pm native time (19:00 GMT) on Monday.
Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina, reporting from Libya’s Misrata, mentioned safety sources had confirmed the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, extensively referred to as “Gheniwa”, who’s the pinnacle of the highly effective Stability Help Authority (SSA) militia.
Gunfire and clashes then consumed a number of elements of Tripoli.
Al-Kikli was one of many capital’s most influential militia leaders and had just lately been concerned in disputes with rival armed teams, together with factions linked to Misrata. His SSA is underneath the Presidential Council, which got here to energy in 2021 with the Authorities of Nationwide Unity (GNU) of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah via a UN-recognised course of.
Traina mentioned that a minimum of six individuals have been wounded, though it stays unclear whether or not they’re safety drive members or civilians.
In a press release shortly after the clashes started, the UN Help Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) mentioned it was “alarmed by the unfolding safety scenario in Tripoli, with intense combating with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas”.
UNSMIL added that it “calls on all events to right away stop combating and restore calm, and reminds all events of their obligations to guard civilians always”.
UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding safety scenario in Tripoli, with intense combating with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas.
The Mission calls on all events to right away stop combating and restore calm, and reminds all events of their obligations to… pic.twitter.com/SZ8oKgZ1p8— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) May 12, 2025
UNSMIL voiced help for native mediation efforts, notably these led by elders and group leaders, emphasising the necessity to defend civilians amid mounting tensions.
Faculties shut, residents advised to remain indoors
The GNU’s Ministry of Inner Affairs urged residents to remain residence and keep away from motion, warning of additional instability, whereas the Ministry of Schooling suspended courses throughout Tripoli on Tuesday, citing the deteriorating safety scenario.
The GNU’s media platform mentioned early on Tuesday that the Ministry of Defence had totally taken management of the Abu Salim neighbourhood.
“I heard heavy gunfire, and I noticed crimson lights within the sky,” one resident advised the Reuters information company on situation of anonymity.
Two others advised Reuters that the gunfire was echoing throughout their neighbourhoods of Abu Salim and Salah Eddin.
Movies and pictures on-line confirmed plumes of black smoke amid the sound of gunfire, in addition to armed males within the streets and convoys getting into town.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking company captured the sound of medium-calibre gunfire in a number of neighbourhoods, together with areas the place the SSA militia is thought to function.
A number of districts have seen what native sources describe as “suspicious navy manoeuvres”, with convoys arriving from Az-Zawiyah, Zintan and Misrata – seen by many as preparations for a potential showdown within the capital.
Al Jazeera’s Traina mentioned the renewed clashes have prompted anger and fear.
“Individuals are offended that each time these armed teams conflict, civilians are caught within the crossfire,” he mentioned, including that residents are demanding “accountability”.
“When these teams struggle and individuals are killed, nobody is held accountable. Locals need justice, and anticipate the authorities to carry these behind the violence accountable,” he mentioned.
Libya plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed rebellion that toppled and killed Libyan chief Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation has been ruled for a lot of the previous decade by rival governments in japanese and western Libya, every backed by an array of fighter teams and international governments.
