Toubou demonstrators in southeastern Libya have called of their threats to restart a blockade of the Sarir power station 160 kms south of Jalu. Demonstrators called on the Zeidan government to evaluate the need to set up seperate Toubou districts and local councils in Kufra and to connect the remote Toubou settlement of Rebyana to the national electrical grid. Demonstrators blockaded the road leading to the plant last November, stopping fuel trucks from reaching the facility. Demonstrators agreed to end the blockade when negotiations with the government began in December, though threatened to restart it if their demands were not met (LH).
The Sarir power station is one of Libya's main power generation stations. During the blockage the station was able to continue power generation from fuel reserves on site, though security concerns caused the plant to stop production briefly in December, leading to concerns about electricity shortages around the country (LH).
Toubou demonstrations at Sarir and demands for increased autonomy and recognition have raised tensions with the Arab Zwai tribe in the region, leading to a series of tit-for-tat killings and kidnappings. Militias likely associated with the Zwai also attacked guards at the Sarir facility in December let to several fatalities. The facility is guarded by the National Army's 25th Brigade, which is composed largely of Toubou drawn from local militias. A breakthrough in early January between the Toubou and Zwai saw the release of hostages held by both sides, though violence continued a little over a week later when gunmen again attacked members of the 25th Brigade protecting Sarir, killing three. A Toubou soldier was also killed in Kufra in early January, and a Toubou teenager shot in the same city on 19 January. Both of these events were linked to increasing tensions between the Toubou and Zwai.
Continuing tensions between Toubou and Zwai in eastern Libya threaten to increase at the same time that violent clashes between Toubou and the Abu Sulayman tribe in southwest Libya has led the Zeiden government to call on the army and militias from northern Libya to restore order in Sebha.
