AFP journalist is set free

A correspondent from Agence France-Presse (AFP) who was kidnapped by an armed group in Benghazi, Libya on Monday, has been freed. Ibrahim Hedeya was visiting the city with his brother when he was taken. Speaking to AFP, Ibrahim’s brother reported that the group accosted the pair on the streets, claiming to be affiliated with Libyan security. He said: “They were driving ordinary cars; they told us they were part of the authorities. They then took my brother and left me without any explanation.” Benghazi’s security directorate has denied its involvement in the abduction. The incident comes as part of a string of kidnappings in Libya. Armed groups from various affiliations are increasingly turning to taking people hostage to have their demands met. Media workers and journalists are often targeted. An unknown armed people recently stormed the Libyan satellite channel of Hurra and Asema. They destroyed their content and abducted the employees who were later released. The interim government of Libya currently faces increasing challenges to impose security and the law in the country due to the absence of military to enforce it.