By Jamal Adel.
Tripoli, 11 December 2014:
Though tensions simmer beneath the surface in the southwestern town of Obari, the situation has remained stable since . . .[restrict]the Misrata-led Third Force pulled out and headed to the western front at the weekend.
This September serious clashes erupted in Obari between the largely Tebu joint-security room and pro-Libya Dawn Tuareg militiamen. That fighting caused dozens of casualties and widespread damage, forcing many families to flee to neighbouring towns and villages.
Meanwhile, according to Tripoli LANA, the Libya Dawn-occupied Awqaf office in Ben Ghashir has sent relief supplies, including food, baby formula, cleanser, clothing and blankets to the mainly Tuareg-inhabited towns of Ghat and Obari.
Efforts to mediate between the two minority groups have been fruitless as the fighting persisted until the Third Force withdrew.
A delegation from the House of Representatives (HoR) visited the region on 7 November to hold peace talks, meeting both the Tuareg elders at the Sharara oilfield and the Tebu elders at the El Fil oilfield. However, any ceasefire deals that were made were not honoured, since the two groups quickly resumed fighting to keep their strongholds.
Although the clashes have subsided with the withdrawal of the Third Force, it is quite possible that there will be another offensive from the Tebu side with the aim of retaking the Sharara oilfield. [/restrict]
