A Call for Peace in Tripoli Amid Renewed Violence

West support inc.
May 14
5 min read

TRIPOLI, Libya — The streets of Libya’s capital, Tripoli, were engulfed in chaos this week as heavy gunfire and explosions tore through densely populated neighborhoods, marking the most intense clashes in years. The violence, which erupted on the evening of May 12, 2025, and continued into the early hours of May 13, was triggered by the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli, known as “Gheniwa,” a prominent militia leader and head of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA). At least six lives were lost, schools were shuttered, and the city’s Mitiga International Airport suspended operations, leaving residents trapped in a familiar cycle of fear and instability. As the United Nations and local authorities scramble to restore calm, the renewed fighting underscores the fragility of Libya’s peace and the urgent need for all parties to prioritize dialogue over destruction.

The immediate catalyst for the clashes was the ambush of al-Kikli, a powerful figure whose SSA controlled key areas of Tripoli, including the Abu Salim neighborhood. According to local reports, al-Kikli was killed during a meeting at the headquarters of the 444th Combat Brigade, a rival faction aligned with Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s Government of National Unity (GNU). The assassination sparked retaliatory attacks between the SSA and Dbeibah-aligned groups, notably the 444th Brigade and the Special Deterrence Force (Rada). Heavy weaponry, including artillery, was deployed in residential areas, endangering countless civilians and prompting the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to warn that such actions could constitute war crimes.

By May 14, a fragile ceasefire had been announced, with the Libyan Ministry of Defense claiming that calm was being restored. Yet, the scars of this latest violence run deep, not only in the physical destruction of homes and infrastructure but in the collective psyche of a nation that has known little peace since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Libya remains divided between the GNU in Tripoli, backed by Turkey, and a rival administration in the east led by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). This political schism, compounded by the proliferation of armed factions vying for control over Libya’s oil wealth and strategic territories, has turned Tripoli into a tinderbox where disputes can ignite with devastating consequences.

The killing of al-Kikli, a figure accused of human rights abuses yet integral to Tripoli’s precarious power balance, highlights the complex web of alliances and rivalries that define Libya’s conflict. His SSA was one of the last major factions not aligned with Dbeibah, and analysts suggest that his death may consolidate the prime minister’s grip on the capital, potentially at the cost of further alienating other groups. “Gheniwa was de facto king of Tripoli,” said Tarek Megerisi of the European Council on Foreign Relations, noting that his removal could shift the city’s power dynamics significantly. However, this consolidation risks drawing in external factions from cities like Misrata, Zawiya, and Zintan, which mobilized toward Tripoli during the clashes, threatening a broader escalation.

Beyond the immediate power struggles, the violence in Tripoli reflects deeper systemic issues: a lack of unified governance, the unchecked influence of armed groups, and the involvement of foreign powers such as Turkey, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, which have fueled Libya’s fragmentation for over a decade. The country’s oil facilities, located primarily in the south and east, remain distant from Tripoli’s fighting but are a constant prize in the broader conflict, underscoring the economic stakes that perpetuate instability.

The International Human Rights Agency WEST SUPPORT, which has been consistently monitoring the situation in Libya, has expressed grave concern over the recent escalation. With a mission rooted in protecting human rights, WEST SUPPORT advocating for justice in conflict zones like Libya. The organization notes that the use of heavy weaponry in civilian areas not only endangers lives but undermines the prospects for sustainable peace and reconciliation.

Amid this turmoil, the human cost is staggering. Families huddled in their homes as gunfire echoed through the night, while children, already accustomed to the sounds of war, faced yet another disruption to their education and sense of safety. The Emergency Medicine and Support Centre reported retrieving six bodies from the Abu Salim area alone, a grim reminder of the toll exacted on civilians caught in the crossfire. UNSMIL, in a series of urgent statements, condemned the use of heavy weapons in populated areas and called for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing that “attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure may amount to war crimes.”

This latest outbreak of violence is not just a tragedy for Libya but a warning to the world. The cycle of retribution and power grabs offers no path to stability, only more suffering. For the sake of Libya’s children, who deserve a future free from the shadow of war, all parties must lay down their arms and commit to resolving disputes through dialogue. The killing of al-Kikli, like the countless deaths before it, is not the example we should set for the next generation. Murder and destruction teach only division and despair; peace and cooperation demonstrate the courage to build a better world.

WEST SUPPORT calls on all parties to the conflict in Libya—armed groups, political leaders—to immediately cease hostilities and engage in inclusive dialogue to address grievances and build a unified future.

“The children of Libya deserve to grow up in a world where conflicts are resolved through words, not weapons,” “We urge all factions to prioritize human rights, protect civilian lives, and work toward reconciliation. Violence is not the legacy, peace is the path to a brighter tomorrow.” - Dr. Aleksandr Gavrishuk, CEO of WEST SUPPORT.

The international community, too, has a role to play. Foreign powers must cease their support for rival factions and instead back Libyan-led efforts to achieve reconciliation, as urged by UNSMIL. Community leaders and elders, who have already begun mediating between groups, should be empowered to broker lasting solutions. The 2020 ceasefire, which brought relative calm until recent years, proves that de-escalation is possible when all sides prioritize the greater good.

As we reflect on the chaos in Tripoli, we must ask ourselves what legacy we wish to leave for our children—not only in Libya but across the globe. Will it be one of endless conflict, where might triumphs over right? Or will it be one of hope, where differences are settled through words, not weapons? The answer lies in the choices made today. On behalf of WEST SUPPORT, we call for an immediate end to the fighting, the protection of civilian lives, and a renewed commitment to dialogue and justice. Let this be the example we show our children: that even in the darkest moments, peace is worth fighting for.