The situation in Zawiya continues to deteriorate as political and security authorities in western Libya turn a blind eye to the city’s distress.
Last year, civil disobedience erupted as residents demanded the removal of armed groups and smuggling gangs, and accountability from the municipal council and joint security forces. This unrest spurred the Government of National Unity (GNU) into action, leading Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba to initiate a military operation that included the deployment of combat drones.
According to the UN Independent Experts Committee report, covering April 2020 to July 2023, the airstrikes predominantly targeted forces opposing the GNU in Zawiya. Key targets included sites linked to Mohammed Kashlaf, a local leader of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) who is believed to be involved in fuel smuggling, and Hassan Bouzriba’s Stability Support Authority.
In contrast, locations linked with Mohammed Bahron, also known as “Al-Far” (or “the Mouse”), a GNU ally in Zawiya, were notably spared. Although the civil disobedience subsided after the military intervention, the fundamental issues that sparked it remain unresolved.
Criminal networks and government collusion
Zawiya, located 45 kilometers west of Tripoli, has become a nexus for criminal networks involved in a range of illicit activities along Libya's northwestern coast. These networks thrive with the backing of armed groups, which have been legitimized by successive transitional governments in Libya.
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