The recent statements of the Libyan Minister of the Interior (Tripoli government), regarding the city of Zawiya, have only highlighted this example among the most illustrative of the chaos at work in this country. The situation on the ground is, according to the minister, ” beyond the reach of the authorities “. “ We have no control over it. ” he told Saudi television channel Al Hadath on Thursday.
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The city of Zaouialocated less than 50 km from Tripoli, is the third largest in western Libya. It has been classified by the United Nations as ” the most dangerous in Libya ” and lives in permanent tension due to opposing militias.
This city is actually located on the international road leading to the Tunisia. Over time, it has also become a hub for all kinds of trafficking: human beings, gasoline, foodstuffs, etc.
A fierce struggle for influence has developed between the city’s most powerful militias, to control the networks and thus benefit from the very lucrative financial revenues that they generate.
Zaouia’s militias are also active in neighboring towns such as Ajilat, Sorman and Sabratha, which makes the situation unstable in this entire area given over to mafia practices.
In his statements, the Minister of the Interior indicated that his ministry was ready to design a security plan for Zaouia, in the event that the militias decide to cease their clashes.
But these statements on the lack of security were badly received by a section of the population, which indirectly benefits from the fallout from trafficking, and which demanded, in a press release, apologies, while asking the minister to resign.
Zaouia experienced two new arbitrary liquidations on Thursday. The first targeted a simple citizen, following an altercation with members of the al-Far militia. A member of this militia, the main one in the city, was then shot dead.
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