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🛒 تسوق الآنHaftar Forces Arrest Several Participants in Soumoud Convoy 2
Haftar Forces Arrest Several Participants in Soumoud Convoy 2
Arrests Made at Sirte Crossing Point
Several participants in the "Soumoud Convoy 2" were arrested on Sunday evening by forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar while crossing the 5+5 demarcation line near Sirte. The convoy, which set out to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause, saw its advance halted at a military checkpoint designed to divide Libya's eastern and western armed formations.
The Maghrebi Soumoud Convoy, the organizing body behind the initiative, confirmed the arrests in a public statement. Internet and telecommunications services were reportedly shut down at the camp near Sirte as the arrests took place, according to convoy organizers who described the situation as deeply concerning.
Background: The Soumoud Convoy Movement
The Soumoud Convoy movement represents a civilian-led initiative that transcends national borders across the Maghreb region, uniting citizens from Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco in a common show of support for Palestinians in Gaza. The "Convoy 2" refers to the second iteration of the convoy effort, following an earlier attempt that faced similar obstacles at military checkpoints.
Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army controls key routes leading to Sirte and the broader central corridor. Any mass civilian movement through these areas requires coordination with LNA authorities, who have historically been cautious about large gatherings near strategic infrastructure. Sirte remains a sensitive military zone where the Libyan National Army maintains a heavy and visible presence.
Key Facts About the Arrests
- Multiple convoy participants were detained on Sunday evening near Sirte's western outskirts
- At least four individuals were initially arrested on charges of publishing videos deemed offensive
- Communications and internet services were cut off at the Sirte camp during the arrest operation
- The convoy was attempting to cross the 5+5 demarcation line, a military boundary established during ceasefire negotiations
- The LNA has not issued a detailed official statement regarding the arrests as of publication time
- Convoy organizers released a public statement confirming the detentions and calling for releases
Organizers Speak Out
A spokesperson for the Soumoud Convoy organizers stated that communications and internet access were shut off at the Sirte camp and four participants were initially arrested, accused of publishing material considered offensive by authorities. The spokesperson emphasized that the convoy's mission was purely humanitarian and called for the immediate release of all detained participants without conditions.
The convoy movement has framed the arrests as a direct obstacle to peaceful expression of solidarity. Organizers have urged Libyan authorities and the international community to intervene decisively and secure the freedom of those currently in detention.
Why This Matters for Libya
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges facing civilian movements in Libya, where armed groups control key transit routes and retain the power to restrict freedom of movement across the country. For ordinary Libyans, the arrest of solidarity convoy participants raises serious questions about the future of civilian political expression and the role of military authorities in regulating public gatherings.
The Sirte corridor remains one of the most contested areas in Libya, with the Libyan National Army maintaining significant strategic influence. Any meaningful reconciliation process between Libya's rival factions will need to address the fundamental freedom of civilians to move and express themselves without fear of arbitrary detention.
Libyans across the entire political spectrum have expressed support for the Palestinian cause throughout the decades, and the blocking of the convoy underscores how divisions within the country can interfere even with positions of broad national unity.
What Comes Next
The international community and Libyan civil society groups are expected to call for the immediate release of the detained convoy participants. The convoy organizers have indicated they will not abandon their mission of solidarity, and regional Maghreb solidarity networks are monitoring the developing situation with close attention.
For Libya to move toward a lasting and genuine peace, civilian voices must be protected and allowed to participate freely in public life. The resolution of this incident could set an important precedent for how civilian initiatives are treated across Libya's divided territory in the months and years ahead.
