One month after being kidnapped in Benghazi [north-east of Libya], Amnesty International called on Friday (August 16th) to warn of the situation of Libyan MP Siham Sergewa.

"This horrible kidnapping [...] illustrates the danger faced by women in Libyan public life who dare to voice criticism of the militias," said Magdalena Mughrabi, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at the time. Amnesty International, quoted in a statement. "Fears about her safety are growing every day," she added.

An attack in punishment?

This woman politician disappeared on July 17 in Benghazi, seat of the elected Parliament, after the attack of her home by an armed group, the day after her intervention on the channel Libya al-Hadath, television close to the strong man of the is Libyan Khalifa Haftar whose Benghazi is the stronghold.

In his speech, Siham Sergewa called for the cessation of fighting and denounced the "radicalism" of some deputies who had won the cause of one side or the other, who in his view was responsible for the division of the Parliament. Marshal Haftar launched on April 4 an offensive to try to take the capital Tripoli, where is based the Government of National Unity (GNA), recognized by the UN.

The MP "seems to have suffered this attack in punishment for peacefully expressing her opinions and criticizing the Libyan National Army (NLA)" self-proclaimed by Khalifa Haftar, believes Magdalena Mughrabi.

Witnesses to the attack said that the attackers were affiliated with the ANL, according to Amnesty's statement, in which it is stated that the MP's husband was shot in the leg by a shot and his son was shot at. years "violently beaten". A graffiti indicating "the army is a red line" was painted in their house, said the NGO, adding that a witness had seen the armed group arrive in cars on which one could read "military police".

New raids of pro-Haftar forces

Three people were injured in raids on Friday by Haftar forces against two airports under the control of the National Unity Government (GNA) in northern Libya, according to press reports from the government. For the second time in less than 48 hours, Zouara aerodrome (120 km west of Tripoli) and Mitiga, the only functioning of the capital, were targeted by attacks.

The pro-Haftar forces have also "targeted other hangars [...] located east of Abu Kamach", where is the largest petrochemical complex in the country, near the Tunisian border, added General Ahmed al-Mesmari, the spokesman of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (ANL) of Marshal Haftar.

Fighting between the forces loyal to the NLG and the ANL tramp south of Tripoli and in four months killed 1,093 people and injured 5,752, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Nearly 120,000 people have been displaced.

Since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi's regime in 2011 after a revolt, Libya is plunged into chaos with power struggles and armed militias making the law.

With AFP