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🛒 تسوق الآنMisrata military parade joins Libya protests as anti-government movement spreads west
Misrata military parade joins Libya protests as anti-government movement spreads west
Sanctioned commander Salah Badi leads armed show of force alongside demonstrators demanding Dbeibeh's ouster
MISRATA — Protests against the Government of National Unity led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh have expanded into western Libya, with thousands gathering in Misrata on Monday in a demonstration that featured an unprecedented military parade by armed groups aligned with the opposition movement.
The protest in Misrata marks a significant escalation in the wave of unrest that began in eastern and southern Libya, now reaching the country's third-largest city, long considered a stronghold of political and military power in the west.
Armed parade alongside civilian protests
Witnesses reported that the demonstration included both civilian protesters and armed convoys belonging to the "Ahrar 17 February" force and other military formations rejecting the continued rule of the Dbeibeh government. Armed vehicles and pick-up trucks mounted with heavy weapons paraded through the city streets as demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans.
The participation of Salah Badi, commander of the al-Samoud Brigade who is under international sanctions, drew particular attention. Badi is listed on the United Nations sanctions regime for Libya for his role in obstructing the political process and engaging in acts threatening peace and stability.
Badi's call to march on Tripoli
During the military parade, Badi addressed the crowd directly, announcing that the armed forces on display had been prepared to stand alongside the protesters. He called for a march toward the capital, Tripoli, declaring that the goal of the movement is to end what he described as "the government of corruption and worn-out institutions."
"The Libyan state must be built on truth and justice according to the will of the Libyan people," Badi said. He added that Libya's wealth should benefit all citizens, not a select few, and urged "free people in all regions" to join the movement.
Badi claimed that military preparations were complete for what he termed "cleansing the country from oppression and tyranny," and accused unnamed figures of treason and collusion with foreign parties.
Root causes: Electricity blackouts and economic decay
The protests come against a backdrop of severe electricity shortages that have plagued Libyan cities for months, with residents enduring daily power cuts lasting up to 12 hours in some areas. The deteriorating public services and declining living standards have fueled public anger across the political spectrum.
Libya's electricity crisis stems from a combination of aging infrastructure, insufficient fuel supply for power plants, and chronic underinvestment in the energy sector despite the country holding Africa's largest proven oil reserves. The Dbeibeh government has faced mounting criticism for its failure to address these basic service delivery issues.
Regional spread of anti-government sentiment
The Misrata protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations that have swept through multiple Libyan cities in recent weeks. The movement, largely grassroots and leaderless in its civilian component, reflects widespread frustration with the political stalemate that has persisted since the failure to hold national elections in December 2021.
However, the visible alignment between armed groups and civilian protesters in Misrata raises concerns about the potential for the movement to veer into armed confrontation. Previous episodes of civil conflict in Libya, including the 2014 and 2019-2020 wars, have demonstrated how quickly political protests can escalate into full-scale fighting when armed factions take sides.
International community on alert
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has called for restraint, urging all parties to prioritize dialogue and refrain from violence. The renewed instability threatens to undermine recent diplomatic efforts aimed at advancing toward elections and a unified government.
Libya remains deeply divided between rival governments: the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity under Dbeibeh and the eastern-based government backed by the House of Representatives. The country has experienced relative calm since the 2020 ceasefire, but the underlying political divisions have never been resolved.
As the protests gain momentum, the convergence of civilian discontent with armed mobilization in Misrata represents a critical juncture. Whether the movement remains peaceful or escalates into broader conflict will depend on the response from all sides in the coming days.
— Libya Press / Politics Desk
