Latest news with #LibyaProtests
Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Libya protesters call on PM to quit in third weekly march
TRIPOLI: Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Tripoli on Friday for the third week in a row to demand the resignation of UN-recognized Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah following recent clashes in Libya's capital. Demonstrators chanted 'Dbeibah out,' 'the people want the fall of the government,' and 'long live Libya.' At least 200 people had assembled by late afternoon, with several hundred more following suit later. Some blasted slogans on loudspeakers from their cars. Libya is split between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east controlled by the family of military strongman Khalifa Haftar. The North African country has remained deeply divided since the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled and killed longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi. National elections scheduled for December 2021 were postponed indefinitely due to disputes between the two rival powers. The recent unrest came after deadly clashes between armed groups controlling different areas of Tripoli killed at least eight people, according to the UN. The clashes were sparked by the killing of an armed faction leader by a group aligned with Dbeibah's government — the 444 Brigade which later fought a third group, the Radaa force that controls parts of eastern Tripoli and the city's airport. The fighting broke out also after Dbeibah announced a string of executive orders seeking to dismantle Radaa and dissolve other Tripoli-based armed groups but excluding the 444 Brigade. The government and UN support mission in Libya have been pressing efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire since. Last Saturday, a separate protest in Tripoli drew hundreds in support of Dbeibah. Demonstrators condemned the armed groups and called for the reinstatement of Libya's 1951 constitution, which was abolished by Qaddafi after his 1969 coup.
Reuters
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Libyan protesters demand prime minister quit as three ministers resign
TRIPOLI, May 16 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Libyan protesters called on Friday for the ouster of the internationally recognised prime minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and at least three ministers resigned in sympathy with the protesters. The demonstrators gathered in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli, chanting slogans such as "The nation wants to topple the government' and 'We want elections.' They then marched to the main government building in the city center. "We won't leave until he leaves," one protester said. The marchers carried pictures of Dbeibah, national security adviser Ibrahim Dbeibah and Interior Minister Emad Tarbulsi with their faces crossed out in red Dbeibah, who leads the divided country's Government of National Unity, came to power through a UN-backed process in 2021. Planned elections failed to proceed that year because of disagreements among rival factions, and he has remained in power. On Friday, businessman Wael Abdulhafed said, "We are (here) today to express our anger against Dbeibah and all those in the power for years now and (who) prevent elections. They must leave power." Calls for Dbeibah to resign increased after two rival armed groups clashed in the capital this week in the heaviest fighting in years. Eight civilians were killed, according to the United Nations. Violence flared after the prime minister on Tuesday ordered the armed groups to be dismantled. Demonstrators have accused Dbeibah of failing to restore stability and of being complicit in the growing power of armed groups. Economy and Trade Minister Mohamed al-Hawij, Local Government Minister Badr Eddin al-Tumi and Minister of Housing Abu Bakr al-Ghawi resigned on Friday. Militia leader Abdulghani Kikli, widely known as Ghaniwa, died in the clashes, which calmed on Wednesday after the government announced a ceasefire. Libya has had little stability since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising ousted longtime autocrat Muammar Gaddafi. The country split in 2014 between rival eastern and western factions, though an outbreak of major warfare paused with a truce in 2020. While eastern Libya has been dominated for a decade by commander Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army, control in Tripoli and western Libya has been splintered among numerous armed factions. The main oil facilities in the major energy exporter are located in southern and eastern Libya, far from fighting in Tripoli. Engineers at several oil fields and export terminals told Reuters output remained unaffected by the clashes.
