Warfalla

Warfalla () is a tribal confederation of mixed Arab and Arabized Berber origin that resides in Tripolitania, western Libya, mainly in their stronghold of Bani Walid. Warfalla historically inhabited the area bounded by the cities of Bani Walid and Sirte, as well as the town of Sabha. The Warfalla tribe, along with the Qadhadhfa and Magarha, were the backbone of Muammar Gaddafi's regime. The Warfalla tribe is considered a confederacy of 52 sub-tribes that consist of individual bayts or clans. Warfalla is estimated to be Libya's largest tribe with approximately one million members.

== Origin == The Warfalla tribal confederation is of mixed origin. It includes Arabized Berber tribes descended from Hawwara, as well as Arab Bedouin tribes descended from Banu Hilal. By the sixteenth century, the Arab migrations to the Maghreb and subsequent intermarriage with indigenous populations had largely Arabized the region, giving rise to mixed Arab-Berber tribes that included the Warfalla. Arab tribes then joined the tribal confederation in a sort of tribal brotherhood (muwakhah), until 52 sub-tribes emerged, establishing the tribal confederation of Warfalla.