Protests have erupted in Tripoli, Libya, as anger grows over severe power cuts and a worsening electricity crisis. Demonstrators shut roads and blocked the Foreign Ministry in the capital, marking a civil disobedience campaign against the Government of National Unity.
The unrest coincides with a severe heat wave that has pushed temperatures to 47°C in Tripoli, with some parts of the country recording between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius. The extreme weather has resulted in power outages, which have lasted more than 14 hours in some neighborhoods, although other reports indicate daily cuts of up to 10 hours.
Blockades and disruptions
Demonstrators set fire to car tires and blocked road intersections in several areas, including Tajoura, Souq al-Jumaa, Al-Sarraj, Janzour, Zawiyat al-Dahmani, and Al-Dhahra. In Janzour, protesters burned tires and blocked the coastal road, while others sealed off the Ghiran roundabout, a main western entrance to the city.
Barriers were erected in front of key public institutions. A crowd dumped a truckload of soil in front of the Foreign Ministry building, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. Similar barriers were placed in front of Libya National TV in Zawiyat al-Dahmani, the Audit Bureau building, and the headquarters of the Telecommunications Holding Company in the Al-Nofliyeen area.
Entrances to the Libyan Telecommunications and Technology Company, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Youth, the Ministry of Maritime, and the Ministry of Education were also blocked. Branches of the Central Bank and offices of Libyana and Almadar telecommunications companies in Souq al-Jumaa were shut down by protesters. Demonstrators also gathered outside the West Tripoli power station.
Protesters denounced the electricity crisis, repeated water cuts, the weak health system, and inflation. Chants included demands for justice and accountability, with slogans such as 'The people want justice that holds accountable those who wasted your money' and 'The people's money is a trust in your hands.'
Political demands and response
The Sons of Tajoura Movement stated that actions would continue until the governments in the east and west of the country are brought down. Protesters demanded the removal of both administrations. The Souq al-Jumaa Movement organized under the aim of holding the government accountable, stating they would not block public roads, target citizens, or damage private property.
The Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, remained silent about the growing power cuts but threatened legal action against those who damage state institutions or threaten national security. The Prime Minister's Office Protection and Security Force stated that anyone seeking to undermine security would be dealt with firmly, while urging citizens not to be drawn into calls for chaos.
Acting Interior Minister Imad al-Trabelsi ordered security agencies across Tripoli to raise their readiness to the maximum level. Local reports from Janzour stated that an armed group affiliated with the government opened fire on a gathering of protesters, though no official information on casualties or circumstances was released.
Background and regional context
Libya has been split between rival administrations since 2021, with the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and a government headed by Osama Hammad in Benghazi. The country has not held a national election since 2014, and multiple UN-led roadmaps to organize elections have failed.
The electricity dispute involves a conflict between Prime Minister Dbeibeh and Mohamed al-Mashey, chairman of the General Electricity Company of Libya, which has paralyzed the sector's management. Electricity demand has exceeded grid capacity due to years of underinvestment, theft from the network, and disputed management of Libya's oil revenues.
A similar wave of demonstrations over electricity cuts and corruption hit Tripoli in May 2025, with crowds gathering in Martyrs' Square demanding Dbeibeh's removal. Those protests dispersed without producing political change. The current unrest has also spread to the city of Zawiya, while in Misrata, an armed group opposed to Dbeibeh staged a show of force with military vehicle convoys.