Political killings continue to plague Libya

Ever since the aftermath of its 2011 revolution, Libya has continued to suffer through widespread violence within the region.  In the last two years, at least 1,200 people have been killed due to numerous acts of revenge and power clashes.  Political divisions within the General National Congress have essentially left the government powerless, and the power struggle has kept Prime Minister Ali Zeidan under the fear of dismissal before he was ousted on Tuesday.  No other place has been as affected by the turmoil than the city of Benghazi, the origin of the uprising.  Over 100 prominent figures, security officials, and judges have been assassinated in the last two years and the rampant killings have crippled government and security forces.  Residents of the city have continuously complained about the lawless behavior of the militias and the extreme Islamist groups that hold their bases there.  As time goes by, the rate of killings is only increasing, and foreign consulates of diplomats of neighboring countries have been targeted as well in an attempt to scare away allies of the new order.  A Libyan congressman of the National Security committee describes the assassination campaign as "a systematic process to eliminate the building of a modern state" (he also wished to remain anonymous because he feared the consequences of publicly defying these extremist groups).  Even in the town east of Benghazi, Derna, extremist groups are targeting moderate Islamists who may be supporting the transition into a more democratic state.  Therefore, most of the assassinations in Derna have been linked to ideological motivations by extremist groups who had refused to join the others in the uprising.

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Amanda Ngo