Militias leave Tripoli

This item appears on page 14 of the January 2014 issue.

In November, several militia groups agreed to turn over the bases they have held in Tripoli since Libya’s leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in August 2011.

Citizens of Tripoli have been protesting the armed presence of the militias for some time, and after one militia group opened fire on protesters on Nov. 15, killing more than 40, the government demanded the militias leave. Members of these militias may join the regular army or police force.

Libya’s new government faces many other armed groups that have taken control of various resources throughout the country while claiming to protect them.