Authorities Announce Discovery of 58 Unidentified Bodies in Libya's Tripoli

(MENAFN) Libyan authorities announced the discovery of 58 unidentified bodies that had been stored for a prolonged period within a morgue at Abu-Saleem Hospital in southern Tripoli. The Interior Ministry stated on Facebook that the morgue was under the control of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA), a militia associated with the Tripoli-based Presidency Council. The ministry further noted that the bodies were kept "for a long time without notifying the judiciary or relevant police departments," and that forensic sampling and legal processes are currently in progress.

This discovery occurs against a backdrop of increasing tensions in the capital following recent armed confrontations between the SSA and the 444 Brigade, a militia loyal to Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah. The fighting began last week after a reported killing of an SSA commander within a facility controlled by the 444 Brigade.

On Sunday, the 444 Brigade reported finding a mass grave south of Tripoli containing 10 bodies, alleging they were killed by the SSA. This claim remains unverified by independent sources.

Libya has been marked by division and instability since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the ouster and death of Muammar Gaddafi. The country is currently split between two competing administrations: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli and an eastern-based government supported by the Libyan National Army (LNA) under Commander Khalifa Haftar.

Armed groups continue to operate with considerable autonomy within GNU-held territory, particularly in Tripoli, where rival factions frequently engage in clashes over power and resources.

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