Tripoli, (EFE).- Libya’s 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 Apparatus (SSA), in violent clashes that rocked the capital, Tripoli, the night before.
Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeiba declared that the government would no longer tolerate “chaos and violations,” asserting that only state institutions would handle security matters moving forward.
The SSA, one of Tripoli’s most powerful armed groups, had played a key role in the city’s volatile security landscape.
Its leader, Al-Kikli, known as “Ghaniwa,” was killed in fierce clashes in the Abu Salim district, a former stronghold of resistance loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and the SSA’s power base.
The sudden escalation forced the closure of schools, the evacuation of nearby areas, and raised alarm among the international observers.
Dbeiba named Brigadier General Mustafa al-Washishi as the new head of the Internal Security Service, replacing Lotfi al-Harari.
In a bid to tighten state control, the prime minister also dismantled the Police Judiciary’s Department of Operations, previously linked to a commander wanted by the International Criminal Court, and transferred its responsibilities to the Ministry of Interior.
The controversial Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency was also dissolved and replaced with a new directorate under the Interior Ministry.
Chaos in Tripoli highlights militia rivalry and government fragility
The violence erupted just hours after the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) warned of unusual military movements in the capital.
What followed was one of Tripoli’s 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.
Emergency services declared maximum alert as civilian casualties mounted, at least six were killed, with more wounded.
Al-Kikli’s death appears to have been the result of internal rivalries among militias, though details remain unclear.
Some local sources suggested sabotage or betrayal.
Al Ahli Tripoli Football Club, where he served as honorary president, condemned his killing as “a betrayal” and directly blamed armed brigades and the GNU leadership.
While the GNU swiftly declared it has regained full control of the area, the incident underscores the state’s continued reliance on, and vulnerability to, fractured militias.
Despite years of attempts to integrate armed groups into Libya’s formal security apparatus, many still operate with considerable autonomy.
The SSA, though officially sanctioned in 2021, was widely seen as a state-backed militia with political and economic leverage across western Libya.
A fragile partner in the fight against instability and migration
For United States policymakers and international observers, the latest unrest in Tripoli highlights the ongoing challenges facing Libya’s transition to statehood.
Since the NATO-backed ouster of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has remained divided between competing istrations: 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).
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.
The US has ed efforts to stabilize Libya through diplomacy and limited security cooperation, particularly around counterterrorism and migration.
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’s coast remains a top concern.
int-seo/mcd
