Sabratha residents organized a Thursday protest against the ongoing incidents of abduction and security chaos in the country.
The protesters gathered outside the Sabratha Security Directorate, condemning the abduction of several civilians including Muhannad Jamal and Ali Omar Al-Seid, who went missing in September 2017 in Tajoura town north-western Libya.
They also noted in their statements Libyan National Army (LNA)’s Colonel Bashir Jedidi, who was kidnapped in 2014.
Sabratha residents demanded to know the abductees’ whereabouts, urging the Libyan authorities, organizations and NGOs to find more information about the fate of the kidnapped.
The demonstrators claimed that “three specific people” are behind all of the abductions in their town, without revealing their identities, political backgrounds or motives.
The abductions, the protesters said, is a “clear and direct message of terror.”
Last February, similar protests took place in Tarhuna town, 65 kilometres to the southeast of Tripoli. They condemned the violence, kidnapping and murders that were common in the city during the past period.
Tarhuna protesters urged the city’s youth to abandon armed and terrorist groups and only join the army or police forces if they want to defend their country.
Libya has been torn apart by conflict since its long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by the parliament, backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and located in Tobruk. The U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Faiez al-Sarraj, operates in the country’s west and is headquartered in Tripoli.
Since the split of the Libyans that followed the 17 February revolution in 2011, the crisis of terrorism, violence, kidnapping, smuggling and human trafficking, along with the infiltration of terrorists and criminals into Libya from bordering countries, has controlled the country.
International talks and negotiations are still ongoing in order to hold presidential and parliamentarian elections by the end of 2019 as the country’s political salvation from the conflict.
