Libya: Sarraj Forms Militia Parallel to Interior Ministry

Libyan media revealed Sunday that Fayez Al-Sarraj, the head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), has formed a security apparatus parallel to the Ministry of the Interior led by an extremist.

This move may lead in the coming days to more tension between the militias and factions loyal to Sarraj, and those affiliated with the Minister of Interior, Fathi Bashagha.

A document dating back to last September showed that the head of GNA separated the "Deterrence" militia from the Ministry of the Interior to become a subordinate to it.

His decision also stipulated that the reorganization of the Special Deterrence Force, led by Abdul Raouf Kara, to become directly subordinate to it with an independent financial liability, away from the Ministry of Interior, which Bashagha heads.

Although the decision is old, being leaked now coincides with tension prevailing in the Libyan capital between militias loyal to Sarraj and others to Bashagha.

Moreover, the decision published by the Libyan newspaper Al-Saah 24 stipulated the reorganization of the deterrence apparatus for combating organized crime and terrorism, so that it is called the “Deterrence Agency for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime,” and it has legal personality and independent financial responsibility; it is subordinate to the Presidential Council.

The headquarters of the agency shall also be in Tripoli, and branches of it may be established by a decision.

It is issued by the President of the Presidential Council upon the proposal of the head of the agency.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between Sarraj and his interior minister has witnessed over the past months many stages of tension and collision, which translated into a competition between some Libyan factions according to their loyalties.