Former head of Libya’s coastguard,who was known as a key trafficker of people and fuel, Major Abd al-Rahman Milad, better known as Al-Bidja, was reportedly killed by unidentified attackers on Sunday, September 1, in the town of Sayyad, approximately 25 kilometers west of Tripoli.
Milad, who commanded the Janzour Naval Academy near where he was slain, was found dead in a bullet-riddled white four-wheel-drive vehicle, as seen in images circulating on news websites and social media.
Milad, aged 34, had become notorious as a key figure in smuggling operations, dealing in everything from human trafficking to fuel smuggling. His criminal activities had earned him widespread recognition, particularly after an Interpol red notice was issued against him in June 2018, following a United Nations Security Council decision that sanctioned six leaders of migrant trafficking networks in Libya.
In October 2020, Libyan authorities arrested Milad, though he was released in April of the following year.
Subsequently, he was appointed head of a coastguard unit tasked with combatting illegal migration, a move that raised eyebrows given his past.
Despite his controversial history, Milad had been considered a mediator among rival factions in Zawiya, a city situated 45 kilometers west of Tripoli, known for being a key departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe and for its proximity to a major oil refinery controlled by armed groups.
The refinery’s control by armed factions often led to violent clashes, sometimes resulting in civilian casualties.
The instability in Zawiya is reflective of the broader chaos that has gripped Libya since the NATO-backed overthrow of former President Moamer Gaddafi in 2011, which left the nation divided between two rival administrations vying for control.
Abdallah Allafi, a member of Libya’s Presidential Council, expressed his outrage at the killing in a Facebook post, vowing that those responsible “would not escape divine punishment.”
Allafi, who is from Zawiya and serves as the Deputy Head of the Presidential Council, underscored the region’s volatile nature and the high stakes involved in local power struggles.
Similarly, Khalid al-Mishri, another influential figure from Zawiya and the head of the High Council of State, called for a thorough investigation into Milad’s death.
Mishri acknowledged Milad’s role in mediating between rival factions in Zawiya, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative surrounding his assassination.
Mishri’s position as the head of the High Council of State, a Senate-like body based in Tripoli, has been contentious, with his election being contested by outgoing chief Mohamad Takala.
Libya’s fractured political landscape, with its entrenched rivalries and power struggles, continues to fuel violence and instability, making it a hotbed for illicit activities, including human trafficking.
The killing of Milad, a central figure in these operations, marks yet another chapter in the ongoing turmoil plaguing the North African nation.
