On 11 April, the Judicial Police – which is allied with the Special Deterrence Force (Rada), arrested two members of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) led by Abdul Ghani al-Kikli (aka al-Ghinaywa). The SSA then arrested two members of the Judicial Police. As a result, clashes between the SSA and Judicial Police/ Rada started in the early evening in the area of the Airport Road in Abu Salim. Subsequently, the Tripoli Security Directorate established roadblocks on several roads in the vicinity of the fighting and all the major armed groups in the capital mobilized their forces, though most did not intervene in the fighting.
The Tripoli Security Directorate called on the population to avoid the scenes of the clashes and only leave their homes in extreme emergencies. The clashes came as many Libyan families were out celebrating Eid al-Fitr. After midnight, the fighting stopped following an exchange of prisoners between Rada /the Judicial Police and the SSA. Thereafter, the situation calmed down.
On 12 April, UNSMIL expressed the UN’s deep concern about the fighting in Tripoli. It emphasized that the chronic insecurity in Libya is a consequence of the protracted political crisis and eroded institutional legitimacy. The fighting is a reminder that Libya must prioritize the holding of elections. The UN mission called on all parties to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and refrain from reprisals, stressing those responsible must be held accountable. The GNU has not issued a statement on the fighting.