Tripoli descended into one of its most violent episodes in years on Monday night following the death of Abdul Ghani al-Kikli, the head of the Stability Support Apparatus, a powerful security force aligned with the Presidential Council. Al-Kikli was killed at the headquarters of Brigade 444 Combat, an incident that immediately ignited fierce clashes between rival armed groups and led to a swift erosion of security control across the Libyan capital.
The Emergency and Support Center reported the recovery of at least six bodies from the areas engulfed by the fighting. Amid the escalating violence, the Interior Ministry of the GNU issued urgent calls for residents to remain indoors. The breakdown of order allowed for widespread looting in areas such as Abu Salim and around the city zoo, with security forces seemingly unable to respond effectively in the immediate aftermath.
Graphic images circulating on social media depicted the extent of the chaos, showing stores that had been ransacked and residential areas bearing the scars of the conflict. Even the Tripoli zoo, a significant local landmark, was reportedly stormed by armed individuals who allegedly stole equipment and damaged animal enclosures, according to local sources.
Al-Kikli, a prominent figure in Tripoli’s complex web of armed factions, had long been under international scrutiny for alleged human rights abuses. A report by UN Security Council experts in December 2024 identified him as a key player in the financing of armed groups. Furthermore, he had been named in complaints filed with the International Criminal Court concerning alleged crimes against humanity committed against migrants.
In the wake of the violence, Asaad Zahiw, the head of the National Union of Libyan Parties, publicly called on Attorney General Al-Siddiq al-Sour to launch an immediate investigation into the spending of a substantial sum – 132 million Libyan dinars – allocated to the Stability Support Apparatus. This demand is particularly significant given recent remarks by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, who had described the apparatus as an “irregular group.”
Zahiw, in comments on his official social media, questioned the rationale behind disbursing such a large amount of public funds to an entity lacking official legal recognition, as stated by Dabaiba himself. He argued that “this expenditure represents a clear breach of financial regulations and warrants judicial accountability, given the suspicions of corruption and the financing of armed groups operating outside the state’s authority.”
Established in 2021 by a decision of the then-Presidential Council led by Fayez al-Sarraj, the Stability Support Apparatus had become one of Libya’s most contentious security bodies. Tasked with sensitive missions ranging from combating illegal immigration and smuggling to protecting government facilities, its direct affiliation with the prime minister rather than the Interior Ministry had long raised questions about its accountability.
Al-Kikli himself had a notable criminal history, including convictions for murder and drug offenses, and had been released from prison during the 2011 revolution. He subsequently established a powerful armed group that gained control over Abu Salim area. His appointment as head of the Stability Support Apparatus allowed him to build an extensive network of economic and security influence and forge strong ties with the GNU, a relationship that had reportedly soured in recent months.
Reports suggest that the tensions between al-Kikli and Dabaiba had escalated due to disputes over military control in certain camps and the storming of the General Telecommunications Company headquarters by al-Kikli’s forces, culminating in his death on Monday.
Local and international human rights organizations have documented the apparatus’s involvement in arbitrary arrests and human rights violations, alleging that it operated outside formal institutional frameworks despite receiving significant state funding with little effective financial or administrative oversight.
Amid the fallout from al-Kikli’s death, Prime Minister Dabaiba asserted during a Tuesday night security meeting that no armed entity outside the authority of the Defense Ministry and the Libyan National Army held legitimacy. He declared that the era of parallel security structures was over and that the state would only permit the existence of regular army and police institutions.
Dabaiba emphasized the necessity of confronting anyone obstructing the state’s path or preventing official bodies from carrying out their duties, stating that the government would “strike with an iron fist.”
His remarks came during a meeting that included the acting Interior Minister, the Undersecretary of the Defense Ministry, the Director of Military Intelligence, and the commander of Brigade 444, where a detailed briefing on the implementation of a plan to secure the capital was presented.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya voiced its profound concern over the developments, calling for an immediate ceasefire and warning that attacks on civilians, particularly in densely populated areas, could constitute war crimes.
While the Defense Ministry announced the regaining of control over Abu Salim district and the raising of alert levels, the Interior Ministry launched a security plan to pursue those responsible for the unrest. However, the government continued to face widespread criticism for its perceived slow response to the escalating chaos.
In an attempt to reassert control, Prime Minister Dabaiba issued a series of decisions, including the dissolution of the Operations and Judicial Security Department, the formation of a committee to investigate prison conditions, and the transfer of the Authority for the Security of Facilities and Installations to the Ministry of Interior.
Nevertheless, observers suggested that these actions might be too late, as public trust in the government’s ability to establish stability appeared to be waning. Tripoli remains hostage to the power struggles of armed groups in a country exhausted by years of division and armed conflict.