Libyan City Rises in Support of One of Its Leaders by Blocking Roads and Halting Oil

9th October 2024

1 minute read

Libyan City Rises in Support of One of Its Leaders by Blocking Roads and Halting Oil

A heightened state of security tension prevailed in the city of Zintan in western Libya following the arrest by the Internal Security Agency of a prominent military leader from the city.

On Monday, the Internal Security Agency arrested Colonel al-Ajmi al-Atiri, a military leader from Zintan, at the Wazen border crossing with Tunisia, where he was seeking medical treatment.

As soon as he was arrested, the military brigades in the city declared a state of emergency and held an urgent meeting for all brigades and units of Zintan. They closed the gas line beneath Rayana, the military gate of Al-Assa, and the western mountain road at the entrance to Zintan, warning of escalation if al-Atiri was not released.

Many civil entities and tribes in the region expressed their solidarity with the brigades, calling for the swift release of al-Atiri to restore calm to the city.

This comes within the framework of regional loyalties, alongside tribal and religious loyalties, that influence the directions and movements of such armed brigades that spread across Libya after the chaos of 2011, causing divisions among Libyans and prioritizing their narrow interests over the public good.

Al-Ajmi al-Atiri is a prominent military leader from Zintan in the western mountains and led the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Brigade, which arrested Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in 2011.

Security authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent escalation, while the circumstances surrounding al-Atiri’s arrest remain unclear.