Electricity and Public Services Crisis Triggers Massive Demo in Tripoli Libya

JAKARTA - A number of areas in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, have been hit by protests since Sunday (26/7) evening to Monday following the worsening of living conditions and public services, according to reports from local official media.

The Libyan News Agency (LANA) reported that protesters condemned the electricity crisis, repeated water supply cuts, the weak health system, and high inflation.

According to LANA, demonstrators burned tires on vehicles in the Tajoura, Souq al-Jumaa, Al-Sarraj, Janzour, Zawiyat al-Dahmani, and Al-Dhahra areas, and blocked a number of road intersections.

They also set up barricades in front of a number of public institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Libyan National TV office in the Zawiyat al-Dahmani area.

Barriers were also set up in front of the Audit Bureau building and the headquarters of the Telecommunications Holding Company in the Al-Nofliyeen area. The protesters called the action the beginning of civil disobedience.

The protest took place in conjunction with an extreme heat wave that has hit Libya over the past few days, which has led to power outages lasting more than 14 hours in some residential neighborhoods.

During the action, the crowd chanted slogans such as, "The people want justice that punishes those who squander the people's money," "The people's money is a trust in your hands," and "Electricity? Where did the billions go?"

The Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh has been trying to overcome the electricity crisis since 2021. The electricity supply condition has shown significant improvement in the period 2023 to 2025.

Libya is still divided between two rival governments, the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, led by Dbeibeh and based in Tripoli and controlling the western part of Libya, and the government appointed by the House of Representatives in early 2022, now led by Osama Hammad and based in Benghazi, which controls the eastern part and most of the southern part.

For years, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has been trying to mediate a political settlement leading to the holding of elections. Many Libyans hope that the elections will end the political divisions and armed conflicts that have continued since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.