Tripoli and other cities in western Libya have witnessed a wave of mass protests in recent days reaching a peak on Sunday. The demonstrations initially erupted in response to the country’s severe electricity crisis, with power cuts lasting for hours amid a record-breaking heatwave.
As the outages continued, public anger moved beyond complaints over deteriorating services. The protests escalated into what has become a political uprising demanding the downfall of the Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, particularly after demonstrators succeeded in shutting down government ministries, public institutions, and key oil and gas facilities.
The electricity crisis in western Libya worsened sharply in mid-July following a technical fault caused by the disconnection of a major transmission line linking the Misrata and Al-Khums power stations.
The outage resulted in the loss of around 1,350 megawatts of generating capacity, plunging large areas into complete darkness, according to Eram News, which is affiliated with Abu Dhabi Media Network in the UAE.
Although Libya’s Ministry of Electricity announced an emergency agreement with the Egyptian government to restore electricity supplies through the two countries’ interconnected grid to help operate major power stations, prolonged outages continued across western and southern Libya, exceeding 14 hours a day in some areas. The disruptions coincided with an intense heatwave that pushed temperatures above 47 degrees Celsius.
After several days of conventional protests, including road blockades and the burning of tires, residents in the affected areas formed grassroots groups to organize the demonstrations, including the “Families and Youth of Tajoura Movement” and the “Souq al-Jumaa Sons Movement” in Tripoli, alongside the “Zawiya Sons Movement.” These groups recently announced the launch of comprehensive civil disobedience.
Using earthen barricades, protesters closed the headquarters of several ministries and key government institutions in the capital, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the telecommunications headquarters, and the Libya National Channel building, preventing employees from reaching their offices and bringing government operations to a complete standstill.
The escalation did not stop at administrative buildings. The protest movement also spread to major economic facilities, with demonstrators blocking the coastal road near the West Tripoli power station in Janzour before heading toward the Mellitah Oil and Gas Complex west of the capital.
The Mellitah complex is the country’s main energy hub and is responsible for pumping natural gas to Italy and Europe through the Greenstream pipeline, raising the possibility that the local crisis could spill over into the European energy market if the shutdown continues.
Statements issued by the protest movements in Tripoli, Tajoura, and Zawiya also outlined clear political demands that went beyond public services. Protesters called for Dbeibah’s government to step down, describing it as having “expired its mandate,” for officials implicated in the misuse of public funds to be held accountable, and for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held to end the country’s political division.
The statements stressed the peaceful nature of the civil disobedience campaign, while exempting hospitals, medical centers, ambulance services, and emergency services to ensure continued humanitarian care for the public, and rejected any attacks on public or private property.
However, statements issued by the groups organizing the protests also included stern warnings to all government institutions and ministries that had been shut down, insisting they remain completely closed in line with the decision to launch comprehensive civil disobedience and warning that anyone who violated the decision would face “serious consequences.”
In a statement, the “Souq Al-Jumaa Sons Movement” said any attempt by employees to resume work in the closed offices or remove the earthen barricades would amount to undermining the people’s decision and showing contempt for their will and sacrifices.
It stressed that the civil disobedience campaign was an ongoing tool aimed solely at bringing down the government, rather than a temporary movement driven by personal or factional interests.
The protest groups also warned the executive authorities and relevant bodies against provoking the public or underestimating the will of citizens, saying any attempt to circumvent the civil disobedience campaign would be met with further escalation and the use of every available means.
For its part, Dbeibah’s government has remained completely silent regarding the protests and their demands. It has issued no statements or comments on the escalating demonstrations or the declaration of civil disobedience.
Official statements have been limited to updates posted on the Libya General Electricity Company’s Facebook page, announcing that repair crews had successfully replaced and repaired electricity lines and transformers blamed for triggering the crisis.
The protests come amid Libya’s complex political landscape, which has long been marked by institutional division. Two rival governments compete for legitimacy and influence: the Government of National Unity, headed by Dbeibah, administers western Libya from Tripoli, while a parallel government based in Benghazi controls the eastern region.
The eastern government was established after the administration led by Fathi Bashagha won a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives but failed to enter Tripoli and assert its authority. Leadership later passed to Osama Hammad, who now heads what is known as the Government of Eastern Libya. The division has contributed to the fragmentation of the country’s economic resources and the deterioration of public services.
