Libya tribal elders and reconciliation negotiators murdered

Libya tribal elders and reconciliation negotiators murdered
Two elders from one of Libya's most powerful tribes have been murdered, serving a big blow to hopes for reconciliation in the war-torn country.
2 min read
30 September, 2017
Libya has been torn by fighting between rival governments and militias [AFP]
Two Libyan tribal elders who have been key negotiators in reconciliation efforts between warring parties have been murdered in the west of the country early on Friday morning.

Abdullah Nattat and Khames Esbeqa from the Werfalla Social Council for Reconciliation were passing through the northern Mizda district when their vehicle was fired on.

The driver and bodyguard who were in the car were also killed in the attack, Libya Observer reported.

The two elders from the Werfalla tribe had been negotiating with groups in Mizda when the attack took place.

Their efforts in trying to bring peace to the war-torn country were widely recognised in the country but little reported outside the country.

Bani Walid in western Libya was known as a stronghold for former leader Muammar al-Gaddafi who was overthrown in 2011.

Many of the Werfalla tribe held important positions in Gadaffi's regime and became one of the last areas to fall to Libyan revolutionaries.

Libya has been torn by conflict since the 2011 overthrow of the the regime, including a war two governments.

Fighting has been fierce between the internationally-recognised government in Tripoli and militias loyal to former Gaddafi loyalist Khalifa Haftar.

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