Much of Libya has been deprived of drinking water since Saturday, August 14. An armed group broke into the country’s main supply center and demanded the release of Abdallah al-Senoussi, Muammar Gaddafi’s brother-in-law and senior official of the former regime.
The authority of the great artificial river – Gaddafi’s flagship project created 30 years ago to supply 70% of Libyan cities with drinking water pumped from groundwater – has shut off the water. This committee says it is acting out of fear of armed men who have threatened to destroy the station’s infrastructure.
After the end of 72 hours, the management committee of this network control center decided to turn off the water for fear of “sabotage” and to “guarantee the safety of its employees”. This committee called on the authorities to take responsibility. No official reaction has taken place since Saturday. Mediation is ongoing.
Last Thursday, armed men broke into the site and threatened to blow up everything if they did not succeed. They demanded the release of Abdallahal-Senoussi, the former cacique of the fallen regime.
He has been in prison in Tripoli since 2012, when he was extradited from Mauritania where he had found refuge, after the fall of the regime. Authorities sentenced him to death in 2015 during a trial condemned by the UN.
The Libyan leader, who has been in power since March, is now accused of ill-treatment. While he was appointed to meet the daily needs of the Libyans, nothing is resolved. Differences remain and the choices seem increasingly hypothetical.
.
