In a country splintered by conflict and propaganda wars, Libya’s journalists are caught in the crossfire between battlefronts and partisan employers, exposing them to risks on the ground.Fighting that erupted in early April when eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on the capital Tripoli has only exacerbated the cleavages in the country’s fragmented mediascape.The battle pits the forces of Tripoli’s U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) against fighters loyal to Haftar, who backs a parallel administration in eastern Libya.FILE – A journalist covers the frontline during clashes between forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar and fighters loyal to the Libyan internationally-recognized Government of National Accord, south of Tripoli, May 25,2019.The rival sides each run their own news agencies and official television channels. And Libya’s private media outlets have dug in too — taking sides and thereby exposing their journalists to potential reprisals. “Because of the conflict… journalists in Libya can’t do their normal work anymore,” Mohamed al-Najem, who runs the A journalist shows application “Kon Chahed” (Be a witness), which aims to protect reporters by providing them with a safe way to document attacks, at the Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP) in Tripoli, Aug. 14, 2019.Those outlets, he added, are “encouraging abuses on the ground, which affect their journalists”. In its latest poll on Libyan journalists hold placards bearing the portraits of Mohamad al-Gurj and Mohamad al-Shibani, who were detained and their fate remains unknown, during a protest in the capital Tripoli, May 5, 2019.In early May, two journalists from a private anti-Haftar broadcaster were arrested by the strongman’s forces while covering the fighting south of Tripoli. They were released 23 days later, but only after tribal pressure.None of the arrested or assaulted journalists agreed to talk to AFP for fear of reprisals against themselves or their families. Many have been forced to change phone number, move, or even flee the country. In a push to protect journalists, the LCFP is working on a mobile phone app that would provide reporters with a safe way to document attacks.
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