Libya: Tripoli mayor freed hours after arrest March 29 /update 1

Event

The mayor of Tripoli, reportedly kidnapped by gunmen from his home early on Thursday, March 29 (local time), was released hours after he was initially detained. According to an official from the Libyan Attorney General's Office, the mayor was actually arrested legally and briefly detained for questioning.

Context

Differentiating between legal arrests and kidnappings can be difficult in Libya, including in Tripoli, due to often ambiguous and overlapping roles between government security forces and local militias.

Though security has generally improved in Tripoli since the Government of National Accord (GNA) and allied militias secured their control of the capital in the summer of 2017, kidnapping incidents are still commonplace. Some factions in Libya use kidnapping for financial gain or to advance political agendas.

Advice

The security environment in Libya remains complex. Although travel is possible in some areas (with appropriate security protocols in place), other areas should be considered strictly off-limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.