Member of the Libyan Parliament, Abdulnabi Abdul-Mawla blamed the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba for yesterday’s deadly fighting in Tripoli.
“The clashes in Tripoli are very unfortunate, and no one expected that things would lead to the killing, destruction, and displacement of civilians,” Abdul-Mawla said in press remarks.
He pointed out that the PM had “dragged the country into war, and supported armed groups.”
He claimed that Dbaiba has “marginalized the police and the military institution that are entrusted with protecting the state and civilians.” The MP stressed that the PM continues to “cling to power and this intransigence is what led the country to this tragedy.”
Notably, fighting broke out in various districts of Tripoli between groups armed with both heavy and light weapons. Libya’s two rival governments yet again vie for power in the oil-rich, but impoverished North African country.
The Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade (TRB) affiliated with the commander Haitham Al-Tajouri clashed with the Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA) affiliated with Abdel-Ghani Al-Kikli (Ghnewa).
Gunshots and explosions rang through the darkened streets of Tripoli, according to media reports.
The the Coastal Road linking the cities of Al-Khoms and Zliten was closed. This was in anticipation of the movement of forces from Misrata towards Tripoli.
“This is horrible. My family and I could not sleep because of the clashes. The sound was too loud and too frightening,” said Abdulmenam Salem, a central Tripoli resident. “We stayed awake in case we had to leave quickly. It’s a terrible feeling.”
The crisis pits groups that back the Tripoli-based GNU, against supporters of a rival government led by Prime Minister-designate, Fathi Bashagha.
Bashagha was appointed in February by the Libyan Parliament, but has since been unable to enter Tripoli.