On 27 July, protests against Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba were held in Zawiyya. They were largely peaceful and called for the removal of Dabaiba and the GNU, the removal of UN Special Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily, and an end to corruption. A key contingent of the protestors were organised under the so-called ‘Resolve Uprising Movement (Hirak Intifada al-Hisam’) led by Shaaban Hadiya (aka Abu Obeida al-Zawi).
Days later, on 1 August, the Attorney General announced that a total of 39 wanted individuals have been seized in Zawiyya on charges of murder, kidnapping and robbery among other charges. The Attorney General said that the defendants had criminal acts and caused great harm to citizens, stressing they have been wanted for years.