Photo Credit: AFP

Over the weekend, protests erupted outside the headquarters of a Misrata militia force in Tripoli calling for the militias to leave Tripoli. The protests turned violent when the militiamen reportedly opened fire on the demonstrators, leaving approximately 43 people dead and over 400 wounded. Following the violence, Misrata’s local council and the council of elders issued a statement demanding that all militia groups within Tripoli leave within 72 hours. The BBC reported that Khalil al-Ruwaiti, who heads a unit under the Misrata Shield Brigade, confirmed his fighters would leave the capital. In response to the Misrata militiamen who opened fire on the demonstrators, calls have been made for Tripolians to strike for three days.

The military has also been sent into Tripoli to secure the city, and according to the Associated Press, “Drivers honked their cars and flashed V-for-victory signs in a show of support as the army troops moved into Tripoli, set up checkpoints and roamed the streets.” The spokesperson, Essam al-Naas, from the Joint Operation Room, a security body under the prime minister, said that as the military deployed, the militias were withdrawing from their positions in the capital.

A day after being kidnapped, an armed militia based out of Zintan released Deputy Intelligence Chief Mustafa Nuh. BBC reports that the militia freed Mr. Nuh “following the intervention of the Shura Council of Zintan, made up of local elders.” BBC also suggests that Zintan is home to the most powerful militias residing in Tripoli, some of which are still holding former President Muammar Qaddafi‘s son, Saif al-Islam. In a separate incident, the military governor of Benghazi, Colonel Abdallah al-Saati escaped an assassination attempt that killed one and left another seriously injured in the Colonel’s motorcade, Colonel Abdallah al-Zaidi security forces spokesman told AFP news agency.

Assessing the growing instability and lawlessness in Libya, Solomon Ayele Dersso expressed concern that, “the large amount of weapons moving around, in and from the country and the precarious security situation in the Sahel and West Africa… is sure to affect not only North Africa and the entire Sahel region, but it would also be felt as far as Central Africa and the Horn of Africa regions.”

Meanwhile, in attempt to increase the Libyan governments security forces, the U.S. has committed to training 5,000 to 7,000 conventional and counterterrorism forces. The training is likely to take place in Europe according to CNN.