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🛒 تسوق الآنDbeibeh Uses Buckshot Against Protesters as Civil Disobedience Sweeps Western Libya
Dbeibeh Uses Buckshot Against Protesters as Civil Disobedience Sweeps Western Libya
Live ammunition reportedly fired as thousands demand the fall of Libya's unity government
Libya's Government of National Unity under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh faced its most serious challenge yet on Sunday as mass protests and a widening civil disobedience movement swept across western Libya, with reports emerging that security forces opened fire with buckshot on demonstrators in Tripoli.
The protests, which began over chronic power cuts and extreme summer heat, rapidly escalated into a broad demand for the government's removal. Witnesses told local media that security personnel fired live ammunition and birdshot at protesters in several districts of Tripoli.
Civil disobedience declared across multiple cities
Residents of Tajoura, east of Tripoli, announced the closure of all public institutions and declared a "comprehensive civil disobedience," demanding the fall of Dbeibeh's government and all political bodies, citing systematic failure in managing Libya's public affairs, according to a statement cited by Erem News.
The city of Zawiya, 45 kilometers west of Tripoli, followed suit. A statement from the "Zawiya Sons Movement" announced a peaceful civilian mobilization, suspending work across various institutions while exempting hospitals, medical centers, and emergency services. In Souq al-Juma, central Tripoli, activists joined the movement calling for peaceful civil disobedience with no armed manifestations.
Root causes: Power cuts, corruption, and stalled elections
The grievances driving the protests are multifaceted. Most Libyan regions have experienced severe electricity outages in recent days, compounded by an unprecedented heatwave with temperatures exceeding 45°C. Demonstrators are calling for the departure of the Government of National Unity, which they describe as "expired," the acceleration of presidential and parliamentary elections — repeatedly delayed since 2021 — and the prosecution of officials implicated in corruption.
"The government has failed to manage the state and has obstructed elections," read a statement from the movement in Tajoura, as reported by Youm7. "It is expired and must fall."
Escalation: Live fire on protesters
The situation turned dangerous when security forces allegedly opened fire using buckshot and live ammunition. Akhbar Libya 24 reported that Dbeibeh "faced the disobedience with buckshot, opening fire on protesters, fueling anger as the street chants: the unity government is inevitably fallen." Buckshot — shotgun ammunition containing multiple pellets — is often used for crowd dispersal but can cause severe injuries and has been linked to fatalities in past crackdowns.
Peaceful movement insists on non-violence
Despite the government's heavy-handed response, protest organizers have repeatedly emphasized their commitment to peaceful methods, explicitly rejecting any assault on citizens or property and stressing that humanitarian services would not be disrupted. The demands center on five points: the removal of the GNU, elections, anti-corruption accountability, an end to political division, and improved basic services.
A critical juncture for Libya
The widespread protests represent the most significant challenge to Dbeibeh's government since it took power through the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in early 2021. Dbeibeh has consistently refused to step down, arguing his mandate continues until elections, while critics — including the eastern-based House of Representatives — maintain his government expired when the electoral roadmap collapsed.
As the sun rose over Tripoli on Monday, the chants echoing through the capital's streets made one thing clear: for thousands of Libyans, patience with the political class has run out.
— Libya Press / News Desk
