Libyan Militias Agree to Ceasefire

Rival militia factions who have been fighting in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, for the past week have reached a ceasefire agreement.

In a statement posted on Twitter on Tuesday evening, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said: “Under the auspices of [UN envoy Ghassan Salame], a ceasefire agreement was reached and signed today to end all hostilities, protect civilians, safeguard public and private property.”

UNSMIL added that the ceasefire also calls for the reopening of Tripoli’s only functional airport, Mitiga, which had been closed since 31 August due to the fighting.

Violent clashes between the factions first broke out on 27 August after the Seventh Brigade – an armed group based in nearby Tarhouna – attacked the southern neighbourhoods of Tripoli so as to “cleanse” the capital of “corrupt militias”.

Rival factions, the Tripoli Revolutionaries’ Brigades and the Nawasi Brigade – both of whom support the Tripoli-based, UN-backed government – launched counter-attacks in response.

A ceasefire was reached the next day, but the clashes resumed shortly after.

At least 50 people have been killed and 138 injured since the fighting began.