Rana Jawad

AFP
Many migrants leave Libya on wooden boats hoping to cross the Mediterranean

An armed group in the migrant-smuggling hub of Sabratha in western Libya says it has taken control of the city, following three weeks of deadly clashes there with a rival militia.

Both parties to the conflict are nominally allied to the UN-backed government in the capital, Tripoli.

Libya’s internationally recognised authorities have welcomed the latest development.

Sabratha and who controls it is significant to the international community because it is one of the two largest transit centres for migrants trying to reach Europe.

In a desperate attempt to shutdown that route, Italy is alleged to have influenced a deal between a brigade there led by a people-smuggling kingpin and the Tripoli government.

It is an allegation that has been denied by Rome.

The brigade reportedly agreed to stop migrants from leaving in exchange for “government legitimacy” – this is why migrant departures from Libya dropped dramatically mid-summer.

Their rivals have now driven out this armed group from the city.

It is not clear where the victorious group’s allegiances lie, although it is also linked to the government in Tripoli.

If nothing else, the deadly events in recent weeks illustrate the complex nature and allegiances of Libya’s armed factions, the dangers of loose dealings for “quick-fixes”, and how quickly the tables can turn.

Source: BBC News