The city of Zawiya, in the far west of Libya, witnessed clashes between armed groups on Saturday, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries, according to official sources and local press reports.
The head of the Libyan government appointed by Parliament, Osama Hammad, called for an immediate ceasefire in Al-Zawiya, which is located west of the capital, Tripoli.
Hammad said on his account on the “X” platform, previously “Twitter”: “With regret and concern, we followed the armed clashes currently taking place between our brothers and our people in the city of Zawiya, in which heavy and medium weapons were used, and left a number of dead and wounded.”
He added: “While we pray to God to spare the blood of Libyans from all parties, we call on everyone to immediately cease fire, give priority to the language of reason, and resort to the state’s official security and judicial agencies.”
– Al-Muatasem Al-Fitouri (@Al_Mutasem_Al_F) March 2, 2024
Hammad also called on “tribal sheikhs and wise men to intervene quickly and seek calm between the two parties, in order to preserve lives and public and private property.”
The Libyan Red Crescent called on the warring parties in the Harsha area to cease fire and open a safe corridor, so that families trapped in the sites of clashes could be removed.
This is not the first time that Al-Zawiya has witnessed unrest, as competing armed groups are spreading there, in light of the inability of the official authorities to control the situation.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, Libya has witnessed conflicts and divisions, and its affairs have been managed by two competing governments, the first in Tripoli in the west, headed by Abdul Hamid al-Dabaiba and recognized by the United Nations, and the second in the east.
But there is also competition for power and influence within one party, and between armed groups with multiple loyalties.
