The Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba held an expanded meeting on Monday to review the latest security developments.
This comes with the background of the multiple drone attacks by contending state recognised security forces / militias in Zawia on the Zawia Oil Refinery and the Water Desalination Plant.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Interior Major General Imad Trabelsi; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence Lieutenant General Abdulsalam Al-Zoubi; Chief of the General Staff General Salah al-Din al-Namroush; Director of Military Intelligence and Commander of the 444th Combat Brigade Major General Mahmoud Hamza; and Head of the Public Security and Security Deployment Agency Major General Abdullah Trabelsi.
Also in attendance were the Head of the Joint Operations Force Major General Omar Abu Ghadada; Commander of the 52nd Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Mahmoud Bin Rajab; a representative of the Deterrence Apparatus for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime Colonel Mohamed Abboud; Commander of the 55th Infantry Battalion Muammar Al-Dawi; and Head of the National Support Force Agency Ahmed Sibsi; alongside National Security Advisor Ibrahim Aldabaiba.
The Tripoli government reported that the meeting addressed ‘‘the latest security situation and discussed ways to enhance readiness and coordination among various military and security agencies and institutions. The aim was to strengthen their capacity to handle potential developments and to safeguard security, stability, and the safety of citizens and vital facilities’’.
The Prime Minister, it added, emphasised ‘‘the necessity of dealing firmly with any violations or actions that threaten security or compromise vital facilities and infrastructure, and of taking the required measures in response. He stressed the importance of elevating the level of coordination and preparedness across the various agencies’’.
Comment: The Zawia security dilemma
It is unclear what or if the Tripoli government wants to, or intends to, do anything about the clashing security forces / militias in the beleaguered city of Zawia. This expanded security meeting could be no more than posturing.
For years, the Tripoli based government has left the troubled city of Zawia to its tribes and its recognised security forces / militias, ignoring its frequent clashes and road closures, save face-saving actions and statements. Tripoli has avoided direct confrontation with Zawia’s security forces. And these groups did not encourage the Tripoli government to intervene.
The complex city is split along tribal, political and security forces / militia lines dividing or fighting over territory and the booty from fuel sales and smuggling from Zawia Oil Refinery. The most prized piece of territory is the said Zawia Oil Refinery.
This is currently under the control of Mohamed Al-Gassab, the commander of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), a force nominally under the command of the Tripoli Ministry of Defence. Aldabaiba, as stated earlier, holds the dual role of the Minister of Defence.
Another main security force / militia leader operating in the Zawia / Sabrata area is Othman Al-Lahab (the flame). It is reported that Al-Lahab, head of the 103rd Battalion, is entering into an alliance of convenience with Al-Gassab to confront the other main security force / militia leader, Mohamed Bahroun, aka Al-Far (the mouse).
It is Bahroun, head of the First Support Group, that is believed to be escalating the clashes in Zawia in a bid to seize the refinery.
However, the attacks on the Zawia Refinery may force Tripoli to intervene. The clashes are no longer just little confined local difficulties. They have taken on a national and international dimension. If they do not stop, Tripoli may be forced to intervene.
Equally, the ordinary citizens of Zawia may have had enough and are at last ready for external intervention. This may give the green light for Aldabaiba to intervene militarily. It may be bloody, civilians may be killed or injured in crossfire and property may be damaged. Moreover, it will have a political cost if it fails. And it goes against Aldabaiba's ethos and instinct. He prefers to avoid military conflict.
But it could be a great opportunity for Tripoli to gain total, or at least, more control over the troublesome west coast. This would strengthen Aldabaiba and enable him to surge forward with his Return to Life development programme.
Successful development gains political capital.