I share @UNSMILibya& #39;s concerns over possibility of acts of vengeance, which is highly probable given the murderous record of #alKaniyat since Nov 2012 in #Tarhuna and its environs. #GNA must ensure that victims of alKaniyat must not participate in the offensive. 1/
#Libya https://twitter.com/UNSMILibya/status/1263750463524134913">https://twitter.com/UNSMILiby...
#Libya https://twitter.com/UNSMILibya/status/1263750463524134913">https://twitter.com/UNSMILiby...
Especially the " #Tarhuna Defense Force" & "al-Naa& #39;a& #39;ja Martyrs Battalion". #alKaniyat, before Apr 2019, killed more than 250 ppl, including women & children. Names of victims are available. Entire families were wiped. Since Apr 2019, it is even worse. 2/
#Libya
#Libya
#AlKaniyat are not just the 4 remaining al-Kani brothers (Abdelrahim, Mohamed, Abdulkhaleg & Mua& #39;mmar), they also include their clan cousins el-Shegagi & others.
Hence, acts of collective punishment/revenge are very probable #GNA must take the issue seriously. 3/
#Libya
Hence, acts of collective punishment/revenge are very probable #GNA must take the issue seriously. 3/
#Libya
The Commander of #GNA& #39;s Military Operations, Maj Gen al-Juwaili should push for forces from #az_Zawiyah, #Zintan, #Nalut & #Jadu to take take control of the offensive against Haftar& #39;s militias in #Tarhuna. No one who has grievances against #alKaniyat should be allowed in. 4/
Controlling the aftermath of defeating Haftar& #39;s last remnants of militias in the Western Region is crucial in stopping the cycle of violence & counter-violence. The responsibility of #alKaniyat& #39;s crimes lies with it, not with #Tarhuna. 5/
Succeeding in controlling the offensive, and preventing any acts of retributions, this will be seen as a positive sign of #GNA& #39;s intentions & capabilities. They have already done it in the orderly liberation of al-Asaba& #39;a, al-Urban, al-Shegega & Mizda south of #Gherian. 6/
#Libya
#Libya
Back to @UNSMILibya& #39;s statement. The perception is that it is disingenuous, to say the least. Over 8 years of #alKaniyat terror, the group was sanctioned. In 2018, when they launched their attackon #Tripoli, the #UN sanctioned Salah Badi, but none of #alKaniyat. 7/
#Libya
#Libya
In January this year, @UNSMILibya could& #39;ve helped to persuade/nudge the authorities in #Germany to arrest Abdelrahim al-Kani, head of #alKaniyat, when he was there receiving treatment from wounds he sustained in the fighting around #Tripoli. But #UNSMIL chose not. 8/
#Libya
#Libya