Tripoli (TDI): Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central Tripoli on Friday for a third consecutive week, calling for the resignation of UN-recognized Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah following recent violent clashes in the Libyan capital.
Protestors raised slogans such as “Dbeibah out,” “the people want the fall of the government,” and “long live Libya.”
By late afternoon, around two hundred protestors had gathered, with several hundred more joining as the protest grew. later. Some chanted slogans on loudspeakers from their vehicles.
Libya is divided between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, under Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east of the country led by military strongman Khalifa Haftar’s family.
The North African nation has remained deeply split since the revolt in 2011 which was supported by NATO and that ousted and killed longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi.
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National polls slated for December 2021 were postponed indeterminately because of differences between the two rival powers.
The recent unrest erupted after eight people were killed in the deadly clashes between armed groups ruling different areas of the capital Tripoli.
The clashes were erupted by the killing of an armed faction leader by a group associated with Dbeibah’s government — the 444 Brigade which later fought a third group, the Radaa force that governs swats of eastern Tripoli and the airport in the city.
The fighting started also after Dbeibah unveiled multiple executive orders trying to dismantle Radaa and disband other armed organizations in Tripoli but sparing the 444 Brigade.
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The government and United Nations support mission in the country have been urging efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire since.
Last Saturday, a separate demonstration in Tripoli drew hundreds in support of Dbeibah.
Protestors slammed the armed groups and demanded the reinstatement of Libya’s 1951 constitution, which was abolished by Qaddafi after his 1969 coup.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
