The African Union (AU) has called for a permanent ceasefire in Libya following recent deadly clashes in Tripoli and protests demanding the prime minister’s resignation.
The fighting earlier this month involved a Tripoli-based government-aligned armed group against factions it aimed to dismantle, resulting in at least eight deaths according to the UN.
Although no formal ceasefire is in place, the clashes mostly subsided last week, with the Libya Defence Ministry reporting ongoing truce efforts.
On Saturday, the AU’s Peace and Security Council condemned the recent violence and urged an “unconditional and permanent ceasefire.”
In a statement on X, the council also emphasized “inclusive, Libyan-led reconciliation” and appealed for “no external interference.”
Libya remains divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east.
The country has been deeply fractured since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew and killed Muammar Gaddafi.
The recent clashes were triggered by the killing of an armed faction leader by the 444 Brigade, aligned with Dbeibah’s government, which subsequently fought the Radaa force controlling parts of Tripoli.
These events followed Dbeibah’s executive orders seeking to dismantle certain Tripoli-based armed groups, notably excluding the 444 Brigade.