Souq al Jum’aa source condemns government actions

A senior figure from Souq al Jum’aa district in Tripoli has issued a strongly-worded message to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, stating that residents will defend the area with determination, according to a statement provided to Libyan Express.

The unnamed source criticised what they characterised as “selective decisions” by the Dabaiba administration that have reportedly targeted security forces in Souq al Jum’aa whilst overlooking incidents elsewhere in the capital.

“We observed looting in the Abu Salim area by members of a recognised security agency, yet Dabaiba responded with selective measures targeting only disciplined security personnel in Souq al Jum’aa,” the source remarked.

The source expressed dismay regarding the government’s lack of response to recent property damage in Tripoli, drawing parallels to previous periods of instability and warning that the disturbances that began in Abu Salim could potentially spread throughout the capital.

According to the statement, Prime Minister Dabaiba’s public commitment to “restoring state authority” appears at odds with his actions, which the source described as inconsistent and potentially damaging to national cohesion and security.

The source alleged that the government is particularly focusing on the Deterrence Force and Souq al-Juma area whilst disregarding other armed groups, especially those from Misrata, which the source suggests operate without proper oversight.

“This situation does not represent genuine security reform,” the source concluded, suggesting instead that it constitutes “an attempt to assert control over a region resistant to political influence,” with particular interest in the Mitiga prison facility.