On 18 March, Grand Mufti al‑Sadiq al‑Ghariani urged Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba to move to retake control of Mitiga Airport and its prison, dismantle the Special Deterrence Force (Rada), and release the detainees held at Mitiga prison.
On 19 March, al-Ghariani sharply criticized Rada for continuing to control Mitiga prison and failing to implement its agreement with the government from last summer to hand the facility over to the competent authorities. He said detainees remain in harsh conditions, with some held for five to six years without trial. Al-Ghariani claimed that more than 160 prisoners have launched a hunger strike in protest against alleged mistreatment, including beatings, confiscation of belongings, and denial of food. The Grand Mufti argued that these reported abuses contradict the charitable activities that Rada promotes publicly, such as Ramadan food distributions. He called on state authorities to intervene urgently, address detainees’ legal status, and ensure respect for due process and human rights.
It comes amid intensified rumours and reports about Dabaiba marshalling support for a move either on Rada, the Oil Crescent or the Fezzan.
On 18 March, Libyan National Army (LNA)-aligned media reported that Rada released a group of individuals classified as members of extremist organizations who have been held at Mitiga for several years. The list of released detainees allegedly includes figures historically linked to combat activities and recruitment for Al-Qaeda, most notably Ahmed Al-Abbar and Ali Zoubi from Benghazi, and Tariq Al-Sharkasi from Derna.
There are also claims that Ismail al-Sallabi now has a permanent base in south Zliten assisted by groups from Derna, Benghazi and Ajdabiya. There are also mounting suspicions about the Dabaiba government’s attempts to revive anti-LNA armed groups, including the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB) and other elements of Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC).