Throughout 2021, armed militias in western Libya continued to commit murder, kidnappings, and attacked government officials and offices. Several armed clashes erupted between them, causing the destruction of public property, and terrorising citizens. A number of these crimes are noted below:
On 21 December in Tripoli, unaffiliated armed groups surrounded the headquarters of the Presidential Council and the government. They deployed military vehicles, and closed streets with earthen berms. These movements caused the closure of several schools and the University of Tripoli. Many companies closed their doors, mass transportation stopped, and the city was paralyzed in fear of new clashes.
The movements of the armed militias came in the wake of the decision of the Libyan Presidential Council to dismiss the commander of the Tripoli Military District, Major General Abdel-Basset Marwan, and appointed Major General Abdel-Qader Mansour to succeed him.
In November, heavy clashes erupted between the militias of Mohamed Bahrun (Al-Far) who is affiliated with the Ministry of Interior in the city of Al-Zawiya, and the Stabilization Support Agency (SSA), led by Abdel-Ghani Al-Kikli (Ghneiwa), affiliated with the Presidential Council in Al-Zawiya.
Various types of heavy weapons were reportedly used during the clashes. Videos circulating on social media showed the firing of rocket-propelled grenades from both sides. The clashes took place in residential neighbourhoods, endangering the lives and safety of civilians.
In October, clashes erupted between the SSA and the judicial police of the Radaa Special Deterrence Force (SDF). Heavy weapons were also used in the Al-Farnaj neighbourhood in Tripoli, injuring a number of residents.
In October, clashes erupted in Al-Zawiya between Al-Far, and the Zaqrlo militia. The two sides exchanged missiles, which led to a number of deaths. The commander of the force west of Tripoli, Mutei Al-Hariri was among the victims.
The clashes caused direct casualties to the Al-Zawiya oil complex. Eight petroleum tanks were directly damaged. Five other tanks for storing base oils and chemical additives in a mineral oil mixing and filling plant were also damaged.
In September, unidentified gunmen kidnapped the mayor of the Hai Al-Andalus neighbourhood, Mohamed Al-Fatisi, and two members of the municipal council.
In August, an armed group bearing the slogan “the Chief of Staff” attacked the headquarters of the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) in Tripoli. The group fired a heavy barrage of live ammunition at the headquarters and vehicles of the authority, resulting in several injuries.
In August, Chief of the Cabinet Office in Benghazi, Reda Afritis was kidnapped by an unknown armed group in the Al-Dahra area of Tripoli. He was released after being held for more than two weeks.
On 16 July, militias beat and kidnapped the Undersecretary for Programmes and Activities of the Ministry of. Youth, Ahmed Abu Bakr Milad. He was released the next day.
In July, members of the “Ayoub Abu Ras” militia stormed the headquarters of the Municipal Council in Ain Zara. They severely beat council members, and kidnapped a number of them.
Also in July, the city of Al-Zawiya witnessed further armed clashes between the militias of Al-Far, the “Al-Nasr” militia led by Mohamed Kashlaf Al-Qasab, known as “the Emperor of Smuggling,” and Caboat militia, near the Al-Zawiya refinery and Rakina Island.
At the end of June, bloody clashes took place between Al-Far and militias led by Mohamed Baraka, also known as Al-Shalfouh, the most prominent militia in the city of Al-Ajaylat.
In June, the Mayor of Ain Zara Municipality, Abdel-Wahid Al-Balog was kidnapped by RADA forces, after they stormed the municipality’s headquarters and beat, insulted, and slandered a number of employees.
In June, the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade (TRB) stormed the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tripol.