TRIPOLI — Almost two years after it fell to the revolutionaries, Bani Walid, one of the last strongholds of Muammar Gaddafi regime and central city of the million-strong Warfalla Tribe, remains in a sensitive state. It has seen several bloody conflicts since October 2011 but the most serious was the security operation to “reinstate the writ of government” in October last year. It was sanctioned by the General National Congress (GNC) primarily to apprehend the people wanted in connection with the killing of Omran Shaaban, the Misratan revolutionary credited with first discovering Gaddafi in October 2011 in a drainage pipe in Sirte. The city that once had a reputation for running the affairs of the whole country, found itself seen, after the liberation as the final stronghold of the Gaddafi regime Even after since the fall of Bani Walid, many continued to believe the city was still loyal to the former regime and harbored wanted people. Several armed clashes following its fall didn't help quell this belief. During all this time, religious and community leaders were trying to promote reconciliation. They failed because of the heavy loss of lives from both sides, and killing of Shaaban proved to be the final blow to all the peace efforts. The resentment in the city continues today, as the people believe there have been systematic efforts to humiliate them. True or not, it did not help when the Misratan brigades taking part in the final offensive put up pictures in the main square of Ramdan Swehli (a revolutionary from the city who fought against the Italian colonists) and Omran Shaban. Ali Muhammed (we are not revealing the family and tribe name at his request) still cannot stay in Bani Walid for more than two days, because of taunts and remarks. He supported the revolution from the beginning and after the killing of students on May 23, he fled to Sirte. “I went to Sirte with a different name, as my relative there was in a position to offer me security” he said. “I twice escaped death, once from Gaddafi forces that started shooting randomly and the other time when NATO bombed the building I was hiding in. When I returned [to Bani Walid], neighbors and other people had a different attitude toward me. Some started directing remarks at me and eventually I left the city.” He returned to the city and joined the May 23 brigade but had to flee again when the brigade was kicked out after clashes that left seven dead. Muhammed thinks the clashes were triggered by a feeling of humiliation. “People are used to the thinking that they are great and they are running the affairs of the country. But with the revolution this all changed and people have struggled to grasp the reality and couldn't see their influence go.” — Libya Herald
