Tribal clashes kill four in southern Libya

At least four people have been killed in skirmishes between a group of tribesmen and a brigade linked to the army in southern Libya, military sources say.

A Libyan army official reported on Wednesday that, “Four Toubou tribesmen were killed on Tuesday in clashes against Shield Libya,” in the country’s southern town of Kufra.

Shield Libya is made up of former fighters who learned how to fight during Libya’s revolution that ousted former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The official also said that Shield Libya interfered “to prevent student casualties” after clashes between Toubou and Zwai tribesmen turned into a violent armed battle within Kufra University.

A tribal chief also said, “We want the army to secure Kufra, and not a group of civilian revolutionaries who have no military principles.”

Toubou tribesmen have been involved in deadly clashes with the Zwai tribe in the Saharan oasis of Kufra in southern Libya since February 2012.

The clashes between the African country’s two ethnic communities have reportedly claimed the lives of dozens of people.