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[Thread] Sirte. How the future capital of Tripoli became a hub for terrorists and today faces hard dilemas on allegiance. The story of Firjan tribe.
1. Sirte is known to all a "birthplace" of Muammar Qaddafi. In fact he was born south of the city - in a surrounding of a village called Qasr Abu Hadi. Sirte was a small town, but since 1910s it was in Italian control, who searched for oil there.
2. The city got very popular with oil discovery in 1970s. Although the city itself does not have oil field, it is the main hub for oil storage and close to it in Ras La Nuf oil terminal is located. The city itself has a major powerplant - Khalij.pic.twitter.com/nS1jfePReJ
3. From tribal point of view, the city is inhabited by many tribes. The biggest ones are Warfalla, Qadhadhfa, Firjan as well as Misratan tribes: Maadan, Swawam Hamamla. Warfalla are the biggest one, then comes Firjan and then Qadhadhfa. The power mix between them is divided.pic.twitter.com/VqwZTcIvj9
4. The map shows that all major tribes occupy the seaside, except for Qadhadhfa which is more into city. Until 1990s (1993 Warfalla coup attempt), Warfalla-Qadhadhfa dominated the city. The city gave such figures as Saif Qaddaf al-Dam (governor and Qaddafis aide).pic.twitter.com/Ixhjie7Iwy
5. Another character was Omar Ashkal, who was influencial head of Revolutionary Comittees movement and during 2011 was part of Sirte Security Room (loyalist). Both are an example of using own tribe to create new administration based on loyalty.pic.twitter.com/ioKA73ZQAK
6. The city was a "light in the eye" of Qaddafi, who had plans to make it a future capital of Libya. One of the examples of such investments is the Assembly Center, which hosted African Unity Organisation talks and ended with Declaration of Sirte, where African Union was estab.pic.twitter.com/7lFUTHDBwn
7. Sirte was also a major site for Qaddafi himself. South of the city was the home of Su-22 bomber regiment on Ghardabiya airbase. During his visits in the city, Qaddafi stayed in opposite to airport compound in Qasr Abu Hadi, where a regiment of 32 brigade was placed.pic.twitter.com/4GlkNE2o4E
8. During 2011 the city became last enclave of loyalists. After collapse of Qaddafi, together with Bani Walid it hosted remnants of 32 brigade and west of it both Muammar and Mutassim Qaddafi were captured and killed. The city was taken on 20 Oct 2011.pic.twitter.com/2HA7B2GoF1
9. With death of Qaddafi, came the death of his soldiers. More than 50 of them were killed by NTC forces (HRW puts the finger on Misratan militias) at the popular sea side Mahari hotel. Part of NTC force were Sirte Revolutionary Brigades.pic.twitter.com/eq7oUg1Sif
10. Sirte Revolutionary Brigades, were created in 2011 in eastern area of central Libya (Adjabiya, Nawfaliya). Their leader was Maklouf bin Naser al-Firjani (Firjan tribe) and the brigade was jihadist, consisting of many former Abu Salim islamists. They became the police force.
11. Another group was benghasian Zawiya Martyrs Brigade headed by Salah Abu Haliq, defector officer from Libyan Army. Both competed for power in the city. The city was run by Supreme Security Council (SSC), which was to consolidate all brigades and start normal life in the city.
12. "Winners write the history" and also they control the power. SSC was dominated by Salafi elements, such as Khalifa al-Barq (future Daesh leader in Libya) or Salah al Din Al-Firjani, former LIFG fighter and detainee from Abu Salim. These elements changed the Tribal Elder rule.
13. The tribal elders were marginalized by new rules: both Warfalla and Qadhadhfa people were accussed of being loyalists and best case isolated from the power structure, worst case arrested. In terms of Firjani tribe the situation gets more interesting.
14. Firjani originaly come from Tarhuna, but are present also on the coast from Sirte up to Adjabiyah. Many of current LNA officers come from this tribe, as well as Khalifa Haftar himself. Aoun al-Firjani (left) head of military inteligence in LNA (called Haftar successor)pic.twitter.com/wWHkzZtHo4
15. Another prominent Firjani commander is General Al-Mabruk Al-Mugrid Al-Firjani (commander of central region and Ras La Nuf oil terminal) and General Major Salem Deryag al-Firjani (head of Greater Sirte Operations room). The tribe was not in power during Qaddafi rule.pic.twitter.com/px2abTYVNH
16. Firjanis were the most energetic and power hungry of all tribals. They dominated the Sirte Council of Notables and Wisemen under leadership of shayh al-Sadeq al-Ajeel. The shayh decided to create a Al-Jalat brigade, which was gathering tribal members (Firjan,Madan).
17. The role of battalion was not to divide pro/anti revolutionary, it was rather to create a new security force made of Sirte locals. The authority of Firjany shayh was much underminded by Firjani islamists called in this time revolutionists.
18. Year 2012 comes with entering of new islamists forces and establishing a branch of Ansar al-Sharia al Libya. Created in Feb 2012 it started to expand into Sirte. They used former jihadists to enlist in their ranks. Also in 2013 an old player appeared.
19. Al Farooq brigade from Misrata (made of Ramla tribals) started to establish a base in Sirte and joined Ansar. They started also to recruit broad tribal attention: Warfallas,Firjanis. The SSC enjoined complete freedom of acting. Al-Jalat was not a player at all.
20. In 2014, Ibrahim Jadran with his Petrolium Facility Guards attacked Sidra. In response, Misratan forces entered Sirte. This also caused a reaction from Firjani tribal elders, who via Al-Jalat brigade asked Khalifa Haftar for assistance. Still they were too weak in the city.pic.twitter.com/ovCUxVO4tA
21. In 2014, the composition of Sirte defence consisted of: Misratan units who repelled Ansar from the city: Al-Nasr brigade, 166th battalion and Al-Jalat unit. These units occupied mainly the area of airport, former Qaddafi compound as well as al-Dolar district.
22. The Al-Jalat was also responsible for protection and well-going of Sirte Power Plant on the coast. When 14 guards of Firjan were massecred on outskirts of powerplant, rest of Al-Jalat decided to hand weapons to LNA and become 163rd battalion there.
23. Misratans were controlling the city, but being entrenched into Sebha and Aubari, they decided to pull out some of the brigades, leaving the 166th in city. Although recruited mainly from Misratan District #1 in Sirte, the brigade was led by Firjani Muhammad al-Hossan.pic.twitter.com/0WMNNnvwLr
24. Al Hassan, a former construcion worker was responsible for defending of the airport and camp close to it. His father was one of the elders in Sirte council. They failed and retreated after Daesh attacked them, due to lack of support from GNA goverment.pic.twitter.com/OionFgFeL2
25. The Daesh attack was repulsed not only by Misratans, but by an unholy alliance of former jihadists and Firjani tribals. The tribal support was the biggest issue: Firjanis wanted to attack without Misrata, while Qadhadhfa opposed it saying they have no chance.
26. Tribes joined Qadhadhfa and Firjani were left alone in fighting Daesh. It cost lives of civilians, military leader Mabruk al-Firjani. The fight was not only in arms, but also in preaching. Two rival preachers: Hasan Al-Karami and Khaled bin Rajab al Firjani competed.
27. Karami imported from Benghazi and formerly Ansar member preached from Rabat mosque, while a native bin Rajeb used Cordoba mosque to preached anti-Daesh. Bin Rajeb was killed in Aug 2015 during Daesh rule. Firjani started uprising, subdued by Daesh.
28. The brother of bin Rajab, Salem Ibrahim established a new battalion, 604th in Misrata. Recruiting mainly exile Firjanis. The battalion along with Bunyan al Marsous forces fought against Daesh during 2016 campaign. Also 166th participated in assault.pic.twitter.com/9LnAu5IwnN
29. After taking over the city from Daesh, Bunyan Al-Marsous from Misrata remained in the city and took over security matters. During the 2018 2nd anniversary of city liberaration military commanders from Misrata were present there.pic.twitter.com/PVFWvlVCMW
30. The civilian authority was handed to former elected major (in 2015 pre-Daesh entry) Muhtar al-Madani. Madani was not well accepted by part of Sirte Council members due to his connections and appointment by Tobruk goverment prime minister Al-Thini.pic.twitter.com/cqx0Lwn5or
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