Clashes between armed groups erupted overnight in Tripoli, according to local media reports, the latest violence to hit the Libyan capital.

Military tensions caused by the mobilisation of opposing state-recognized militia forces on Tripoli’s southern border over the last few days eased overnight.

Libya is mired in a constitutional and political stalemate that has sparked increasing clashes, a dire economic situation and demonstrations across the country by frustrated citizens, a senior UN official said Monday.

Fathi Bashagha, one of Libya’s two rival prime ministers, is from Misrata – as is his rival, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, whose internationally recognised government sits in Tripoli.

Calm has returned after the separate weekend Tripoli and Misrata militia clashes led to 16 deaths and 52 wounded, according to the Health Ministry.

A Libyan security source said that the clashes in the capital Tripoli, which began on Thursday night and resumed on Friday, are continuing despite the efforts of Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, to stop them.

Following Friday’s Tripoli militia clashes, state recognized militias clashed briefly in Misrata yesterday to add to tensions in western Libya.

After widespread and serious militia clashes in Tripoli overnight Friday, which went on until Friday afternoon, caretaker Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba yesterday sacked his Interior Minister Khaled Mazen. Bader Aldeen Al-Tumi, the Minister for Local Government has been appointed as Acting Interior Minister.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed its deep concern over the clashes that took place in Tripoli on Thursday, calling for an investigation into the incident and justice for the victims and their families.

Street protests, failed political talks, the rising cost of living, two rival administrations, international passiveness, and more. This has been Libya’s reality over the past few months.