Former militia leader, Brigadier General Mohamed Salem Bahroun, aka Al-Far (the mouse), issued a statement on his personal social media page today to, he says, ‘‘unburden his conscious’’ from this morning’s Zawia and Surman ‘‘militia’’ clashes.
Bahroun was accused of being part of this morning’s clashes against another local militia leader of the 103rd Battalion (Al-Sil'a)—led by Othman Al-Lahab. At the time of publication there was no public reply from Al-Lahab.
Both leaders and their security forces are recognised by the Tripoli government. Both, however, rightly or wrongly, have been accused of being party to countless militia clashes in the region over the past months and years.
Here is Bahroun’s statement:
To my people in the Western Coast region and to all the Libyan people:
I write these words to discharge my duty before God and before my fellow citizens, so that everyone may know the truth of our position, free from rumours and misinterpretations:
· We never desired war, nor did we seek confrontation or bloodshed; for the sanctity of life is paramount, and Libyan blood is precious to us all. We have always believed—and continue to believe—that dialogue, unity, and the preservation of life are the paths that safeguard the homeland and its people.
· We have strived with all our might to bridge viewpoints, quell strife, and support every sincere initiative aimed at saving lives and uniting ranks.
· Our primary concern has been the safety of our city, Zawia, and the Western Coast region, ensuring their residents live under a state governed by the rule of law and protected by its institutions.
· Our true battle—past and present—is against crime in all its forms: the drug trade that has devastated our youth, human trafficking, fuel smuggling, highway robbery, banditry, and everything that threatens the security of the citizen and the authority of the state.
· In the early hours of the morning, the headquarters of our security agency, as well as the Surman Security Directorate, came under armed attack.
· Our personnel had no choice but to perform their duty by defending themselves, their facilities, and the state institutions they are entrusted to protect.
· We believe this attack was perpetrated by groups linked to criminal gangs active in drug trafficking, human trafficking, fuel smuggling, and other illicit activities.
· Their objective, in our view, was to undermine the role of our agency—and security agencies in general—in combating these phenomena, and to hinder efforts to protect society and uphold the rule of law.
· Following the repelling of the attack, control was established over the locations from which the assault originated in order to eliminate the source of the threat and secure the area. And to protect the citizens; this was never done with the intention of seizing or occupying them.
· Once the situation stabilized, we handed over all those premises and facilities to the competent authorities—in coordination with the Supreme Commander of the Libyan Army for the Western Region, the West Coast Military Zone, and the 52nd Brigade.
· Our forces then returned to their bases, as we believe these institutions belong to the State; our duty is to protect them, not to usurp their role.
· I call upon on my fellow citizens to witness that we were not aggressors, nor did we seek power or influence. We mobilized solely to defend ourselves and State institutions after coming under attack.
· We also call upon the Supreme Commander for the Western Region, the Head of the Tripoli government, the Minister of Defence (both are held by Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba), the Chief of the General Staff, the Office of the Public Prosecutor, and all relevant authorities to launch an urgent, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances of these events, to announce the findings to the public, and to hold accountable—in accordance with the law—anyone found to have committed violations or borne responsibility.
· The truth harms no one, and justice is the foundation of state-building.
· At the same time, we emphasize that our dispute is not with our people or any social component; the people of Zawia and the West Coast are our kin and brothers, and what unites us is far greater than any disagreement.
· We extend our hand to all who seek the best interests of the region and the nation; to all who believe in the State and the rule of law; and to all who reject drug trafficking, criminal gangs, human trafficking, fuel smuggling, and all forms of crime.
· The future of our children and the security of our cities is a shared responsibility that cannot be borne by a single party alone.
· We ask God to protect Libya, to unite the hearts of its people, to spare bloodshed, and to grant success to all for the good of the country and its citizens.
Brigadier General Mohamed Salem Bahroun
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