Documentation for Al-Qa'qa' Brigade
July 12, 2012
Foreign Affairs
The commander of a powerful Zintani brigade, which is based in Tripoli but has forces guarding southern borders and oil installations, dismissed the WAC as an "academic" exercise that will face difficulty being implemented.
Link:
https://www.foreignaffairs.org/articles/libya/2012-07-12/libyas-militia-menace
May 24, 2014
BBC Africa
The al-Qaqa brigade is commanded by Uthman Mulayqithah who defected from Gaddafi's regime at the start of the uprising. Officially under the Defence Ministry, the militia is tasked with protecting senior officials and government ministers.
July 16, 2014
International Business Times
This group was formed by Libyans in the western part of the country who trained in the Zintan area during the revolution. It used to align with the National Congress and is known to have bases in Zintan and Tripoli. This group has officially announced its support of Hifter.
Link:
http://www.ibtimes.com/libya-militia-map-visual-breakdown-who-controls-what-1630392
July 16, 2014
International Business Times
The Al-Sawiq Brigade has strong connections to Al-Qaqa and has also pledged allegiance to Hifter. The two groups said in a statement back in February that they wanted the Libyan parliament to step down.
Link:
http://www.ibtimes.com/libya-militia-map-visual-breakdown-who-controls-what-1630392
Dec. 19, 2014
Report „Libya: Militias, Tribes and Islamists“
The Brigade is considered the most organized and best equipped government sanctioned militia group in Tripoli. This is attributed to the preferential treatment it received during the former Minister of Defense’s, Usama Juwayli, time in office. In addition, it is also considered as the most professionally trained group because it is comprised of officers and combatants from Qadhafi’s renowned elite force the 32nd Brigade (aka Khamis Brigade). It is headed by Uthman Mulayqita. The group is tasked to protect senior officials and government ministers. Despite its pro-government standpoint it is also reputed for its involvement in illicit arms smuggling and narcotic dealing activities as well as kidnapping.43 Officially the group was affiliated under the army’s chief of staff, providing security at the border frontiers along the country’s porous southwest borders and guarding oil installations in the southern oil fields.44
They oppose what they see as an unacceptable level of Islamist influence in the government, and in February of this year they joined the Sawa’iqa brigade in pressuring members of the GNC to resign. The brigade further demanded the indictment of the GNC representatives 45.
Link:
http://www.landinfo.no/asset/3025/1/3025_1.pdf p.13
Side Sources:
43. Lacroix, J., Libyan militias Profile: al-Qaqa Brigade, The Libyan Insider, 3 July 2014.
44. Wehrey, F., Ending Libya’s Civil War: Reconciling Politics, Rebuilding Security, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, September 2014, p. 5.
45. Lacroix, J., Libyan militias Profile: al-Qaqa Brigade, The Libyan Insider, 3 July 2014; Pack, J., Mezran, K. & Eljarh, M, The Faustian Bargains: Breaking the Appeasement Cycle, Atlantic Council/Rafik Hariri Center fort he Middle East, May 2014, p.29-30.
