Libyan Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Adel Juma, survived an assassination attempt in Tripoli on Wednesday, sustaining a gunshot wound, according to the Government of National Unity (GNU). Authorities confirmed that Juma is in stable condition after unknown assailants opened fire on his vehicle.
The Tripoli-based GNU, recognized by the United Nations, condemned the attack and announced that an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend those responsible. Officials vowed to take decisive action against any threats to Libya’s security and stability.
Juma, who has been a key figure in the government since March 2021, serves as a close advisor to Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah. His role involves overseeing coordination between the prime minister’s office and other ministries.
Libya has remained politically divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the overthrow of longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi. The country is split between Dbeibah’s Tripoli-based administration in the west and a rival government in the east supported by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Political violence remains a persistent threat. In April last year, attackers targeted the home and office of Ibrahim Dbeibah, the prime minister’s nephew and advisor, though no injuries were reported. Similarly, in 2021, then-Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha survived an assassination attempt on a highway in Tripoli.
