Militiamen affiliated with Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled army have usurped several houses and other properties of Dignity Operation’s opponents and the displaced people of the war-torn city of Benghazi, locals have complained.

‎Ibrahim Guider, President of the Libyan Center for Research and Social Studies, revealed that the family house of former politician Mohammed Mangoush in Qawarsha neighborhood  has been forcibly taken by a militia group called “Brigade 133” of so-called Special Forces “Saiqa” for unclear reasons.

Guider posted photos of the house with Saiqa graffiti on the exterior wall reading “No entry, a location for Brigade 133. Refer to the Investigations Unit of Special Forces”.

According to Guider, the family went to the HQ of the Special Forces to inquire about the reason for the seizure, but they got no answer. Instead, the house has been awarded to other people, apparently to the infamous Sahawat militias.

The occupation of Mohammed Mangoush’s house remained a mystery since he is not an outspoken opponent of Dignity Operation. Sources claimed that the reason was because he is the brother of former NTC Chief of Staff Major General Yousef Mangoush whose family was originally from Misrata before settling in Benghazi.

Mohammed Mangoush was the country’s first electricity minister during King Idris’s rule. From 1997 to 2000, he served as Libya’s Prime Minister. In 1970, he was the Minister of Housing. He died in April 2016 in Benghazi and the Interim Government of Abdullah Al-Thanni mourned him as a great man with great achievements.

Meanwhile, several Benghazi IDPs in Tripoli have complained that their houses, shops and farms had been usurped by Dignity Operation militias. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a displaced man said his house and shop were usurped by the militias because of his rejection to Dignity Operation. 

“Dignity Operation militias accuse us of being terrorists because of our stances against Khalifa Haftar,” he said.