Libyan
Demographics of Libya is the demography of Libya, specifically covering population density, ethnicity, and religious affiliations, as well as other aspects of the Libyan population. All figures are from the United Nations Demographic Yearbooks ...
security body formally established in 2021 by the
Ministry of Interior
An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement.
In some states, th ...
of the
National Unity Government
A national unity government, government of national unity (GNU), or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties (or all major parties) in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other na ...
. It evolved from the Abu Salim Brigade, a powerful
militia
A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...
active in
Tripoli
Tripoli or Tripolis (from , meaning "three cities") may refer to:
Places Greece
*Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece
* Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in the Pelasgiotis district, Thessaly, near Larissa ...
since 2012. It was dissolved in May of 2025, after the assassination of Abdel Ghani Al Kikli
History and disposition
The Abu Salim Brigade, later known as SSA, was founded in 2012 by Abdel-Ghani Al-Kakli, a civilian participant in the February 2011 revolution. The group initially operated from Abu Salim, the largest district of Tripoli, and expanded its control to nearby areas.
The Abu Salim Brigade was involved in several armed operations throughout Tripoli, including Bab Ben Ghashir, Sharqiya, Al-Hadba, and the area of the former Ministry of Interior. The brigade worked closely with local authorities and received ongoing financial support, weapons, and payment.
In mid-2021, the Ministry of Interior rebranded the Abu Salim Brigade as the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA). This gave the SSA the right to set up branches outside Tripoli, including in
Sabratha
Sabratha (; also ''Sabratah'', ''Siburata''), in the Zawiya DistrictAl-Zawiya.
On May 12 2025, during a meeting with leaders affiliated with the
GNU
GNU ( ) is an extensive collection of free software (394 packages ), which can be used as an operating system or can be used in parts with other operating systems. The use of the completed GNU tools led to the family of operating systems popu ...
at a base of their rival militia, the 444th Infantry Brigade, its leader Abdel Ghani Al Kikli, was assassinated under mysterious circumstances, leading to clashes between the SSA and the 444th. His assassination triggered the dissolution of the SSA and the takeover of all its bases by the Ministry of Defense, which the 444th Brigade is heavily integrated with.
Activities
The SSA uses official social media to report on operations targeting illegal migration, smuggling, and crime.