Libya: dozens of jihadists released in two western cities

Text by: Houda Ibrahim Follow

In Libya, the reappearance of dozens of extremists belonging to jihadist groups and who fought in the ranks of the government of National Union (GNA) raises many fears among the inhabitants of two cities of Sorman and Sabratah.

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The GNA completed this Sunday, April 13, the reconquest of the entire west coast going to the Tunisian border. An area previously controlled by Khalifa Haftar's forces.

► Read also: In Libya, the cities of Sabratha and Sorman return to GNA control

Some 600 prisoners have been released from prisons in the two towns of Sorman and Sabratah. Among these detainees are dozens of extremist individuals.

The videos and photos posted by the combatants themselves since Sunday show them in exaltation in the symbolic places of Sabratah and Sorman. Thus, one can see at the entrance to Sabratah or in the main square in front of the partially burnt police security building, extremists waving the Islamic State flag as well as the photo of Wissam Ben Hmeid. This former leader of the Benghazi Shura Council had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State before it was killed by the ANL in 2017. We also see police on their knees humiliated by the militiamen of the GNA. Acts of revenge were perpetrated, houses burned and cars stolen or ransacked.

Among these faces, a mixture of wanted extremists who fled the east of the country or traffickers from all sides. We find for example Abderrahmane el-Miladi better known by his nickname El Pedjà, accused by the UN of organizing illegal immigration and tried in Libya. Ahmad al-Dabachi known by the nickname El Ammo and originally from this city also reappears, he is claimed by the ICC for trafficking in human beings.

Tunisian forces on alert

Another freshly released jihadist, Faraj Cheko, who also does not spoil: he is one of the leaders of the Benghazi Shura Council, who also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. However, all these known extremists were thanked on Twitter by the GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bachagha, who defined them as " comrades in arms ".

Moreover, the GNA does not say a word about the released jihadists, nor about the humiliated police officers. The High Council of Sheikhs and notable Libyans sympathizers of the old regime denounces " the gangs of criminals " who attacked these cities thus affirming that the fight of Haftar " is really a fight against terrorism ".

Sabratah was the city that exported the most migrants to Europe before an agreement signed between Italy and the GNA in 2017. Agreement according to which the traffickers received money to stop their trafficking. It was also dominated by IS before the arrival of the ANL. Twice, residents revolted against the dictates of traffickers and extremists.

According to government sources, Tunisian military forces have been on alert since Sunday in order to repel any possibility of terrorist elements fleeing to Tunisia, according to Rachad Beltbib, chairman of the committee to combat terrorism.

Sabratah is located 70 km west of Tripoli. RFI

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• Libya
• Khalifa Haftar
• EI

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