Relative calm has returned to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, after violent clashes erupted on May 12 between rival militias following the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, head of the Stability Support Authority (SSA)—one of the country’s most powerful armed groups. Al-Kikli, widely known by his nickname “Gheniwa,” was accused of war crimes and human rights abuses by Amnesty International. He was reportedly killed in a detention facility controlled by the 444 Brigade, another influential militia. His death triggered some of the worst urban fighting in Tripoli in years, leaving at least 8 civilians dead, according to the United Nations.
In response to the escalating violence, the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) declared a ceasefire on May 14. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced the formation of a “truce committee” to protect civilians and prevent further outbreaks of violence. Libya remains fractured since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi, plunging the country into protracted civil conflict. The country is currently divided between rival administrations, the GNU, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in the west, recognized by the UN Security Council since 2021 and Tobruk-based government in the east, under the de facto control of General Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA). https://x.com/UNSMILibya/status/1924129985008152932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1924129985008152932%7Ctwgr%5E30029231f66fec0a62daf51cb62e8b781bdf4559%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.africanews.com%2F2025%2F05%2F19%2Flibya-un-announces-truce-committee-as-ceasefire-holds-after-violence-clashes-in-tripoli%2F
Efforts to hold national elections have repeatedly stalled due to disagreements between factions, allowing Dbeibah to remain in power beyond his mandate. On May 16, hundreds of protesters flooded the streets of Tripoli, demanding Dbeibah’s resignation and the immediate organization of elections. Demonstrators accused the government of failing to restore stability and enabling the unchecked rise of armed groups. In the aftermath, at least three cabinet ministers resigned under public pressure.
In a nationally televised address on May 18, Dbeibah pledged a crackdown on militias and corruption, declaring “We will not spare anyone engaged in corruption or extortion. Our goal is to build a Libya free of militias and corruption.” Despite the ceasefire, analysts warn that Libya’s deep-rooted political divisions and militia dominance continue to threaten long-term peace and the viability of democratic governance.
