Libya fighting eases after announcement of truce

The intense fighting in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, finally calmed on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, following a ceasefire announced by the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The latest clashes erupted after the killing of militia leader Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa. His death sent shockwaves through the capital, triggering a violent power struggle between the Dbeibah-aligned 444 Brigade and the Special Deterrence Force (Rada).

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Burned-out cars, bullet-ridden buildings, and terrified residents trapped in their homes. There are no immediate statements from authorities on the number of people who lost their lives in the crossfire.

Libya has been a ticking time bomb since the NATO-backed uprising ousted longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country split in 2014 between rival factions, with Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) dominating the east and Tripoli’s government struggling to hold the west. Every few years, there is a fresh round of bloodshed, followed by a ceasefire that barely lasts.

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Libya’s defense ministry said, “Regular forces, in coordination with the relevant security authorities, have begun taking the necessary measures to ensure calm, including the deployment of neutral units.”

The United Nations has urged calm, warning that the situation could spiral out of control. But with armed factions still lurking, many fear this truce is just a temporary lull before the next explosion.