No Result
View All Result
Friday, June 13, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Tripoli-Zawia road remains shut despite threats from militants and mediation by elders

byMichel Cousins
August 22, 2016
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

By Moutaz Mathi and Ajnadin Mustafa.

Tripoli, 21 August 2016:

The crisis over the coast road linking Tripoli to Zawia, closed several months ago by Wirshefana militiamen, shows no sign of ending despite efforts to mediate a solution by local elders and threats by Islamist militants in Zawia to use force to reopen it.

The crisis started last week when Zawia’s militant commander Abu Obeida Al-Zawi announced that he was going to take action against what he called Wirshefana “bandits” and reopen the road. Heading the Islamist Mohamed Kilani Brigade, he is supported in this by an assortment of other militants who call themselves the “Revolutionaries’ Operations Room”. They include Benghazi hardliner Wisam Ben Hamid who is now based in Zawia.

Yesterday, there were fears the militants would launch an offensive against the Wirshefana with bloody consequences.

RELATED POSTS

Zawia Refinery security taken over from militias by Libyan Army

Military operations launched in Zawia and surrounding areas ostensibly to fight crime – and possibly militias too

In the event, the militants contented themselves with a military show of strength in Zawia involving some 100 armed vehicles. On the other side, in the Wirshefana area, armed factions, notably the Abdulhamid Al-Hamali Brigade, have rearmed and mobilised. There have been sporadic outbreaks of shooting between both sides, although no full-scale fighting so far.

Meanwhile, responding to the militants’ threat, elders from the two communities as well as from the Jebel Nafusa have been trying to mediate a solution to the road closure. Saturday saw a meeting in the Wirshefana town of Zahra of mediators including members of the Wershafana-Zawia reconciliation committee. But despite an announcement today from the mayor of Maya (which is in the Wirshefana area) that the road would be reopened before next Sunday because Wirshefana demands have been accepted, there is no sign of any breakthrough.

It is reported that there will be another meeting to bring about reconciliation and reopen the road, but also not till next Sunday, and strangely in the town of Musaid on the Egyptian border.

In the unlikely event of Wirshefana and Zawia negotiators actually going to Musaid, it is still unlikely that they will be able to bring about the reopening of the coastal road.

The problem is that those in the two communities who want a settlement are not the ones causing the problem.

While the Wirshefana political establishment supports the Thinni administration based in the east and the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Hafter, those who have closed the road near Camp 27, the major military barracks between Zawia and the Wirshefana area, are freelance militias beyond the control of either the Wirshefana military Council or the LNA. During Ramadan, the LNA, announcing that it was not responsible for the road closure, described those involved as gangs.

For their part, Abu Obeida Al-Zawi and the militants will have nothing to do with anyone from the Wirshefana and are said to have rejected any deal with them. A spokesperson for the Mohamed Kilani Brigade yesterday said that all peaceful attempts to negotiate with those blocking the road had been exhausted and that the military solution was the only option.

In the capital, the fear is that that Abu Obeida and Wissam Ben Hamid are using the road closure issue as a stepping stone to build up support and then to move to Tripoli to try to take it over.

For that reason, there are those there saying that the Misratans will not allow the road to reopen because they do not want the militants arriving, and that they have already been in contact with the Wirshefana who have closed the road to make sure it stays closed.

Meanwhile in a separate development in Zawia, the town’s other perennial problem, the bitter rivalry between the Khadrawi and Ahneish families has again resulted in clashes between their respective militias. The fighting started after an alleged assassination attempt on Ibrahim Ahneish in the town’s Gamal Abdul Nasser Street.

Note: We originally stated that the meeting on 28 April would be in Shihat rather than Musaid. We were misinformed. We apologise for the mistake.

Tags: LibyaZawia

Related Posts

Presidency Council objects to holding of south reconciliation event in Italy
Libya

All recently clashing state and militia forces and their military vehicles will return to their barracks as of yesterday evening

June 12, 2025
Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

Criminal proceedings initiated against 141 members of the Central Security Agency and Stability Support Apparatus, and security units associated with them

June 10, 2025
UNSMIL: Warring parties invited to begin negotiations on 29 September
Libya

UNSMIL condemns militia and government security forces clashes

June 10, 2025
Tripoli Defence Minister Namroush takes steps to secure Tripoli after Bashagha alleged assassination attempt
Libya

Calm returns after overnight Tripoli militia clashes – Defence Ministry says it has enforced control, warns of readiness to take measures to ensure security

June 9, 2025
Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

Sixty-nine accused of 3,130 incidents of forgery in the Civil Registry

June 4, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Aldabaiba hails recent security operations, vows to end militias – warns against illegal eastern parallel spending leading to inflation and LD devaluation

June 4, 2025
Next Post
Philippines’ diplomat visits Tripoli health ministry

Philippines' diplomat visits Tripoli health ministry

Pro-GNA HoR members to lobby Egyptian parliament

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Tripoli Defence Minister Namroush takes steps to secure Tripoli after Bashagha alleged assassination attempt

    Calm returns after overnight Tripoli militia clashes – Defence Ministry says it has enforced control, warns of readiness to take measures to ensure security

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Construction work progressing at Benghazi’s new Tika airport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boursa FinTech’s virtual Trading and Investment Competition winners announced

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya grapples with political instability and division, fragmented governance, and an overreliance on hydrocarbons: UN Libya study

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Algeria seeks to facilitate the flow of Algerian goods and services to the Libyan market

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

IOM delivers training to over 180 Libyan youth

Aldabaiba stresses need to complete Airport Road works in full in conjunction with imminent opening of Tripoli International Airport

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.