The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Monday called for a thorough investigation into the deaths of at least 10 people from a shooting that occurred in Tripoli. The victims included two members of the Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA): Mohamed Fathi Shanish and Musab Al-Mukhtar Al-Dabaa. The SSA is an armed faction in Tripoli.

The UN mission strongly condemned the act of violence and is closely monitoring the situation. It urged the Libyan authorities to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the incident. It also called on the authorities to take measures to prevent any further escalation of violence.

The incident was referred to as a “massacre” by some sources, with conflicting reports from other local sources. The motive behind the crime remains unknown.

According to the Tripoli Security Directorate Khalil Wahiba, the victims were killed by an unidentified armed group late on Saturday. He emphasized the importance of uncovering and apprehending the perpetrators to ensure that there is no impunity. The SSA, in a Facebook post, expressed its grief over the loss of two of its members and described their deaths as an act of “treachery.”

Since the end of Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi’s rule in 2011, Libya has been plagued by armed groups. These groups have gained notoriety for their brutal actions, including an estimated 100 mass graves in the Libyan city of Tarhuna. Last week, the head of UNSMIL warned that the lack of a unified government in Libya could compromise the country’s unity and lead to its disintegration. He stressed the need for political stakeholders to form a unified government to facilitate credible national elections.