Armed clashes broke out in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, on Monday evening, with gunfire echoing in the city center and other parts of the city, following reports of the killing of Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, the commander of the Support Force Apparatus (SSA), a powerful armed group based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighborhood.
SSA operates under the Presidential Council, which came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdulhamid Dbeibah through a United Nations-backed process.
Residents described hearing heavy gunfire and seeing red lights in the sky, with the GNU’s interior ministry calling on citizens to stay at home “for their own safety.” Drivers responded by speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets. Early on Tuesday, the GNU media platform reported that the defense ministry had taken full control of the Abu Salim neighborhood.
A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, _”I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky.”
The University of Tripoli has suspended studies, exams, and administrative work at all faculties, departments, and offices until further notice.
The U.N. Mission in Libya has urged all parties to “immediately cease fighting and restore calm,”warning that attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes.
This latest development highlights Libya’s ongoing struggle with stability since the 2011 uprising, with the country divided between warring eastern and western factions despite a ceasefire in 2020.
