Tension rises in Western Libya after assassination of one of the biggest human traffickers

Gunmen ambushed Abdelrahman Milad, the commander of the Naval Military Academy camp in Tripoli, by opening fire on him in the Libyan capital. This assassination has heightened tensions, with videos showing several armed groups moving from Zawiya to the Sayyad area in the capital and declaring a state of alert.

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An official security source stated that “gunmen intercepted Major Al-Bidja’s vehicle in Janzour (the western suburb of Tripoli) and opened fire with automatic rifles, killing him instantly.”

The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, added that “security agencies have initiated an investigation into the incident.”

While the source did not specify the identity of the attackers, it noted that “his enemies are numerous.” This comes amid unprecedented tensions related to the Central Bank crisis, which prompted the bank’s governor, Saddiq Al-Kabir, to leave the country out of fear for his personal safety.

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The source also mentioned, “We expect security tensions in the capital due to the mobilization of armed groups loyal to Al-Bidja in the city of Zawiya (50 km west of Tripoli), his hometown.”

In this context, the President of the High Council of State, Khaled Meshri, mourned Colonel Abdelrahman Milad through his official Facebook page. Meshri, who hails from Zawiya, said: “With great sorrow, we received the news of the assassination of the commander of the Naval Military Academy camp, who was known in Zawiya for his efforts in reconciling its residents during any conflict and his efforts to resume operations at the naval academy and graduate its first class after a 14-year hiatus.”

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He added, “While we extend our condolences to the family of the victim, as well as his relatives and colleagues, we call on the Attorney General and relevant authorities to identify those involved in this assassination and bring them to justice.”

Abdelrahman Milad, known as “Al-Bidja,” is one of the prominent security figures in western Libya. He is accused by several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, of leading a major human trafficking network, being one of the leaders of the Libyan Coast Guard in Zawiya, which is a key departure point for migrants heading to Europe.

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In June 2018, his name appeared in a UN Security Council report describing him as “the leader of the most dangerous human trafficking gang in Libya, involved in the torture of migrants and human rights violations.” An international arrest warrant was issued against him by Interpol.

In the same month, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on him and five other Libyans for what it described as “threatening peace, security, and stability in Libya through their involvement in migrant trafficking,” a measure also announced by the United Kingdom.

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On October 14, 2020, the Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Accord in Libya announced the arrest of “Al-Bidja,” with the support of the UN Mission in Libya, but he was released after a few months.