The United Nations has known 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, stated safety sources had confirmed the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, broadly referred to as “Gheniwa”, who’s the pinnacle of the highly effective Stability Assist Authority (SSA) militia.
Gunfire and clashes then consumed a number of components of Tripoli.
Al-Kikli was one of many capital’s most influential militia leaders and had lately been concerned in disputes with rival armed teams, together with factions linked to Misrata. His SSA is below 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 stated that at the very least 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 Assist Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) stated it was “alarmed by the unfolding safety state of affairs in Tripoli, with intense preventing with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas”.
UNSMIL added that it “calls on all events to right away stop preventing and restore calm, and reminds all events of their obligations to guard civilians always”.
UNSMIL is alarmed by the unfolding safety state of affairs in Tripoli, with intense preventing with heavy weaponry in densely populated civilian areas.
The Mission calls on all events to right away stop preventing 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, significantly these led by elders and group leaders, emphasising the necessity to shield civilians amid mounting tensions.
Faculties shut, residents informed to remain indoors
The GNU’s Ministry of Inner Affairs urged residents to remain dwelling and keep away from motion, warning of additional instability, whereas the Ministry of Training suspended lessons throughout Tripoli on Tuesday, citing the deteriorating safety state of affairs.
The GNU’s media platform stated 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 informed the Reuters information company on situation of anonymity.
Two others informed 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 coming 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 doable showdown within the capital.
Al Jazeera’s Traina stated 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 stated, including that residents are demanding “accountability”.
“When these teams battle and persons are killed, nobody is held accountable. Locals need justice, and anticipate the authorities to carry these behind the violence accountable,” he stated.
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 many of the previous decade by rival governments in jap and western Libya, every backed by an array of fighter teams and international governments.
