In an interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat (Arabic), Toubou leader Issa Abd al-Majid accused the Zeidan government of ethnic cleansing against the Toubou of southern Libya. This comes after weeks of fighting between Toubou and the Arab tribe Awald Sulayman in Sebha have left scores dead and wounded and led Zeidan's government to send Libyan army units to establish security in the city. Abd al-Majid accused the government of siding with the Awlad Sulayman in the conflict against the Toubou and said his community would be forced to seek international assistance if the attacks continued. Abd al-Majid made similar accusations against Tripoli in March, 2012, after an earlier round of fighting between the Awlad Sulayman and Toubou in Sebha.
Political progress on Toubou demands, though tensions continue in southeast Libya
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.
Libya Security Update, 18-25 October
Despite Arrests, Assassinations Continue
In spite of a much trumpeted arrest of a "terrorist cell" leftover from Gaddafi's regime made up of Libyans and Chadians on 21 October, assassinations continue. Authorities in Benghazi were anxious to show progress on catching those responsible for the rash of assassinations in the city over the past month after the assassination of military police commander Colonel Ahmed Mustafa Al-Barghathi on 18 October (LH). That assassination led to a tense weekend as al-Barghathi's confederates attacked and burnt the home of Libya Shield commander Wissam Ben Hamid, whom they accused of complicity in the attack. Later in the week, Benghazi was hit with two more assassinations. On Thursday, unknown assailants killed Air Force Colonel Adel Khalil Tuawhani in front of his house in the Had'iq neighborhood of Banghazi (LNA). On Friday, Colonel Faraj Burwein was killed by unknown gunmen in the Hada'iq neighborhood of Benghazi (ONA). Benghazi also saw attacks on two police stations this week in Ras Obeida and Sabri (LH) and two bombings on Thursday in the Buhedama neighborhood (ONA). No causalities were reported from these events.
In spite of a much trumpeted arrest of a "terrorist cell" leftover from Gaddafi's regime made up of Libyans and Chadians on 21 October, assassinations continue. Authorities in Benghazi were anxious to show progress on catching those responsible for the rash of assassinations in the city over the past month after the assassination of military police commander Colonel Ahmed Mustafa Al-Barghathi on 18 October (LH). That assassination led to a tense weekend as al-Barghathi's confederates attacked and burnt the home of Libya Shield commander Wissam Ben Hamid, whom they accused of complicity in the attack. Later in the week, Benghazi was hit with two more assassinations. On Thursday, unknown assailants killed Air Force Colonel Adel Khalil Tuawhani in front of his house in the Had'iq neighborhood of Banghazi (LNA). On Friday, Colonel Faraj Burwein was killed by unknown gunmen in the Hada'iq neighborhood of Benghazi (ONA). Benghazi also saw attacks on two police stations this week in Ras Obeida and Sabri (LH) and two bombings on Thursday in the Buhedama neighborhood (ONA). No causalities were reported from these events.
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Above: Interactive map of security incidents in Bengahzi, 18-25 October. To explore, zoom and pan to specific locations. Click on each incident for details and sources.
Libya Security Report, 1-18 October, 2013
Assassinations Continue in Benghazi
The string of assassinations continued in Benghazi over the last two weeks with 9 assassinations and 2 attempted assassinations. After a relatively calm first week of October, an assassination attempt on 9 October against bomb disposal expert Captain Ismail Mohamed Al-Shareef Al-Saiti was unsuccessful after the al-Saiti escaped from minor injuries after a bomb exploded underneath his vehicle (LH). Two days later a bomb took the life of Salafi Imam Abd al-Salam al-Hasi as he was driving in his vehicle after deliver his Friday Khutba. Al-Haasi had been openly critical of the series of assassinations in Benghazi (al-Manar). On 13 October, unknown gunmen killed Lt. Col. Abdul Fattah Emhemed al-Riani of the Libyan Air Force (QN) and an attempt was made on the life of LTC Abd al-Salam al-Dous, a former officer long involved in anti-drig efforts (QN). On 14 October, an officer in the military prosecution office was killed by a megnetic IED (el-Fajr). On 15 October, three Libyan army soldiers were killed in two separate incidents (AJ, Shorouknews). On 18 October, the Chief of Libya’s Military Police, Colonel Ahmed Mustafa Al-Barghathi, was shot outside his house when leaving for mosque (LH). There were also reports of bomb attacks against two police stations, though no casualties were reported (LH), in addition to a bomb attack against the Swedish/Finish Consulate which also resulted in no casualties (LH).View Larger Map
Above: Interactive map of security incidents in Bengahzi, 1-18 October. To explore, zoom and pan to specific locations. Click on each incident for details and sources.
Libya Security Update, 12-18 September, 2013
Security Events
Above: Interactive map of security incidents in Bengahzi, 12-18 September. To explore, zoom and pan to specific locations. Click on each incident for details and sources.
It was another violent week in Benghazi with two assassinations and two attempted assassinations. On 16 September, a member of the Ministry of Defense was killed and another injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the al-Qawarisha section of Benghazi (LANA). That same day, there were two attempted assassinations. A Benghazi lawyer was targeted with a magnetic IED on his vehicle which detonated when he was not in the vehicle, and the second bombing occurred near the Jara Roundabout in the al-Salmani al-Sharqi district. No one was hurt in either attack (LH). On 17 September an officer from the Benghazi CID was killed when an IED blew apart his vehicle in the al-Salmani al-Sharqi district.
Libya Security Update 9/12/2013
Benghazi Violence Continues
Above: Map of Security incidents in Bengahzi, 5-12 September. To explore, zoom and pan to specific locations. Click on each incident for details and sources.
A large car bomb exploded outside the branch of the Libyan Foreign Ministry in Benghazi on the one-year anniversary of the assault on US consulate that led to the death of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans (LH, AFP). No fatalities were reported, but several people were injured and damage was extensive to the ministry building and a branch of Libya's Central Bank across the street. Qurayna al-Jadidah provided pictures from the scene. The bombing capped another violent week in Benghazi. A series of attacks on security personnel on Sunday left two dead and one injured (LH). Another member of the security forces was injured the same day when a magnetic IED on his vehicle detonated (QJ). On Tuesday, retired Qadaafi-era official COL Salem Mohamed Al-Urufi was killed and his son critically injured by another magnetic IED (LH).
Libya Security Update, 15 August - 3 September
The map below displays security incidents in Libya between 15 August and 3 September, 2013. You can zoom and pan the map to explore specific areas. Click on specific incidents for details and sources.
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