Late on 25th November 2014, clashes once more occurred in Libya between various factions. This time the fighting occurred in Zawia just 40 kilometres west of Tripoli. Zawia had been formally known as another oil rich part of the country. The Zawia refinery is operated by the Zawia Oil Refining Company, a subsidiary of the National Oil Corporation, and once produced 120,000 barrels of oil a day which it no longer does. This has occurred due to the Libyan Dawns stronghold in Tripoli. A local militia leader was arrested subsequently because of the clash, after he declared his support for the House of Representatives. The incident was initiated by the fact that members of the Abu Raawi Brigade, (of the 21st Company), declared themselves as supporters of the House of Representatives. They declared this at Martyrs Square yesterday.
The leader of this group was Hassan Shalgum who was the one who initially made the statement on behalf of the Abu Raawi Brigade. He was then later confronted at his home from the Libyan Dawn, specifically the Forouk Unit. In addition to this, the daughter of another commander of the 21st Company had been taken too. It is reported that she also had attended the gathering in Martyrs Square. Many were outraged and the crowd headed to the Forkouk Unit’s base where the two were thought to have been being held. They attempted to besiege it and fired into the air late last night. The clashes continued until the early hours of the morning during which time the First Deputy President of the House of Representatives, Imhemed Shoaib was being attacked by RPG fire and was later burned. Today Zawia’s main terrorist faction the Abu Obeida Brigade has claimed responsibility for the actions at Imhemed Shoaib’s home. Hassan Shalgum and the girl are said to have been freed but the reports are unconfirmed, and have come from the Libyan Dawn units based in South Zawia. The area is now considered as an actively hostile threat. Zawia since August has been largely loyal to the Libyan Dawn, it has been rival to its neighbouring town of Warshefana.
Furthermore, Zawia has been an area of great strategic concern, as it is considered being part of the critical ‘T-Zone’ of the nation. However, the majority of the fighting has occurred on the frontlines in Benghazi, and Kikla, the so called ‘T-Zone’ which is North East of Zintan and 50 kilometres South of Zawia. It was retaken last week by Zawia brigades, who were firm supporters of the Libyan Dawn. Zawia’s fighters, civilians, businessmen – even Bengladeshis working in the town – are involved in trying to keep hold of the T Zone. The T Zone is of great importance as food is prepared in a warehouse for frontline fighters 25km away from the T Zone. Dozens of men aged from 10 to 80 help prepare food for the frontline fighters, a spokesmen stated that ‘We can cook around 150 kilos of meat and 120 kilos of pasta a day’ which does demonstrate the importance of the region. With fighting worsening, it is clear that tensions will continue to build as the country seems increasingly to move towards civil war.
