At least 58 unidentified bodies were discovered in a Tripoli hospital on Monday, the Libyan interior ministry reported. The remains were found in the morgue at Abu Salim Accidents Hospital, a facility previously controlled by a militia, following a report from the hospital.
Photos shared by the ministry showed the decomposing bodies, some of which were burned, displayed on steel beds. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify the deceased. So far, 23 bodies have been examined, with legal procedures underway.
The hospital is located in the Abu Salim district, which was home to the Stabilisation Support Apparatus (SSA), a militia led by Abdulghani Kikli, also known as Ghaniwa. Kikli was killed under unclear circumstances last week, leading to the militia’s defeat by forces loyal to Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
The discovery comes days after nine other unidentified corpses were found at Al-Khadra Hospital, another SSA-controlled facility. Neither hospital had reported the bodies to the relevant authorities.
Prime Minister Dbeibah has pushed for the dismantling of militias, leading to fierce clashes between armed groups in Tripoli that killed at least eight civilians. The GNU released a video showing the demolition of the 77 camp, a former SSA stronghold, which will be turned into a national park.
Libya has struggled with instability since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, and the country remains divided between rival factions.