The discovery of 58 unidentified bodies in Tripoli sparks controversy in Libya.
May 19, 2025136 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The Libyan Ministry of Interior found 58 unidentified bodies inside the morgue of the Accident Hospital in the Abu Salim area of the capital, Tripoli. The medical facility was under the control of an armed group whose leader, Abdul Ghani Al-Kikli, known as "Ghniwa," was killed last week.
The ministry stated that it received a report from the hospital about the bodies in the morgue refrigerators, indicating that authorities immediately began investigations and took necessary legal measures to identify the victims. So far, 23 bodies have been examined, samples have been taken, and data has been documented.
Photos of the bodies showed identification numbers with faces obscured, revealing that some bodies were burnt while others were in an advanced state of decomposition, reflecting the severity and complexity of the incident.
The Abu Salim area was the headquarters of the Stability Support Apparatus led by Al-Kikli, whose death led to the sudden disintegration of the apparatus following intense clashes with factions loyal to the Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, resulting in the killing of at least 8 civilians according to UN reports.
Following Al-Kikli's death, Dbeibah ordered the dismantling of armed groups, triggering the most violent wave of clashes witnessed in Tripoli in years, highlighting the fragile security situation in the capital despite the current ceasefire.
The 58 bodies found are the second group of bodies discovered within days, as nine other unidentified bodies were previously found in the morgue of the Green Hospital in the same area on Saturday.
This incident comes at a time when Libya continues to suffer deep political and security divisions since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with the country split between two rival governments in the east and west since 2014. Despite a ceasefire in 2020, the country remains on the brink of explosion at any moment, with the proliferation of weapons and armed factions outside the control of the state.
