“Sky News Arabia” sources indicated that militias from the city of Misurata (west of the country) withdrew from the Bouqrin Gate, where they had been deployed there over the past days, impeding the movement of trucks and other cars.
The sources said that the withdrawal came after pressure exerted by Western countries, which threatened to impose sanctions on the militias, as they threaten the stability of Libya, and obstruct the path of a political solution.
Libyan political analyst Muhammad Al-Rajbani believes that “these actions come within the framework of the militias’ desire to obstruct the general elections,” scheduled for next December 24, wondering how these groups would block the road and prevent trucks and pedestrians, claiming that they “have rights.”
And the militias had previously kept the file of opening the road as a negotiating card in order to make the largest possible gains, and it came to them to bargain in order to obtain sums of more than half a billion Libyan dinars, before international pressures resulted in its acquiescence and the opening of the road, according to Al-Rajbani.
According to the Libyan political researcher Anas Al-Awami, the incident reveals “the difference between the militias and the Libyan National Army, as the latter maintained discipline and showed a great deal of control and dedication in performing its duties during the last period, although salaries were not paid to them for 3 months.”
On the other hand, “these groups proceeded to block the road, claiming that they had financial dues,” according to Al-Awami, who added: “There is a difference between those who went out for the homeland and those who joined the militias.”
The coastal road is considered vital for the Libyans, as it links the east of the country to the west, and it was closed between Misurata and Sirte about two years ago due to the battles between the Libyan National Army and the militias active in the west, before the Joint Military Committee “5 + 5” announced its reopening last July.
Since last July, the road has been subject to repeated breaches in the west due to the chaos of the militias, as armed confrontations took place in the areas of Al-Zawiya, Al-Ajilat and Warshafana, which led to it being cut off several times.
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