Violent clashes between two of Libya’s most powerful armed factions—the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) and the 444th Brigade—turned Tripoli into a war zone once again, following the assassination of militia commander Abdul Ghani al-Kikli (“Ghaniwa”).

Within hours of the attack, Tripoli’s Abu Salim and Salah Eddin neighborhoods were consumed by heavy gunfire, RPG attacks, and armed convoys, forcing terrified families to shelter indoors. Videos circulated online show homes riddled with bullets and streets abandoned mid-combat.

The Interior Ministry issued warnings, urging citizens to avoid “military areas”—yet in Tripoli, military areas are wherever warlords decide to fight.

Despite decades of ceasefires and diplomatic efforts, Libya remains divided among militias with shifting alliances. Both the SSA and 444th Brigade officially fall under the Government of National Unity (GNU), yet in reality, they act independently in turf wars for power, wealth, and influence.

The assassination of Ghaniwa was only the latest spark in an ongoing battle for Tripoli’s control, as armed groups who once defended the city against Khalifa Haftar now turn their weapons on one another.

Instead of steering Libya toward elections, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh’s administration remains entangled in militia patronage, relying on armed factions for security, state funds, and weapons.

Meanwhile, Libya’s east remains under the House of Representatives, with neither side making progress toward elections. Every deadline for political resolution passes without change, deepening institutional paralysis.

Libyans have grown numb to the violence, as each round of fighting fades without justice or meaningful intervention. As long as armed groups operate with impunity, Tripoli will continue to burn in cycles, exposing the state’s failure to establish rule of law, security reform, or a path to elections.

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