At least 10 individuals lost their lives in a tragic shooting incident in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, according to reports.
The United Nations (UN) mission in the war-affected nation has called for a comprehensive and expeditious investigation into the incident.
Several local media outlets in Libya have suggested that over a dozen people were killed in the shooting that occurred on Saturday at a villa in Tripoli’s Abu Salim district. However, these reports did not specify the perpetrators behind the killings.
The incident unfolded on the 13th anniversary of the uprising that marked the end of Moamer Kadhafi’s 42-year dictatorship, initiating a period of prolonged conflict and unrest in the North African country.
Expressing condemnation for the violent incident, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) emphasized its commitment to monitoring the situation. Abu Salim is presently under the control of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, the leader of the Stability Support Authority (SSA), established in January 2021.
On Sunday, the SSA confirmed on Facebook that two of its members were among those who lost their lives. UNSMIL highlighted the incident’s gravity, echoing concerns previously raised by Abdoulaye Bathily, the head of UNSMIL, regarding the ongoing security risks posed by rivalries among security actors in Tripoli.
The mission urged Libyan authorities to conduct an impartial, swift, and thorough investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need to prevent actions that could escalate tensions and lead to further violence. In response, the director of security in Tripoli announced the initiation of a criminal investigation into the tragic deaths.
Since the overthrow of Kadhafi in 2011, Libya has grappled with political instability and insecurity, underscoring the challenges faced by the nation in its post-revolutionary period.
