Civil disobedience over power outages spread in Libya

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There have been daily electricity cuts for as long as ten or 14 hours throughout a crushing heatwave in Libya that saw temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius.

And thousands of demonstrators took to the streets with frustration in the country's capital, Tripoli, and across other western Libyan cities around 26 July and have continued into 28 July.

"The people want justice that punishes those who squander the people's money," people chanted over rising power costs, according to a reporter with Euronews. Other chants were heard: "the people's money is a trust in your hands" and "electricity, where have the billions gone?"

Al Jazeera, Euronews, and The New Arab reported closures of bank branches and telecommunications company offices. Video footage showed protesters dumping a truckload of dirt at a foreign ministry office in Tripoli.

Protesters also gathered outside state institutions, telecommunications and bank offices, as well as especially power stations and oil or gas complexes.

The Souq al-Jumaa Movement, according to the Libya Review, called for a civil disobedience movement "to disrupt operations without affecting the daily lives of residents." The group, which has led opposition actions since May 2025, is demanding that the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) step down.

“Yesterday's protests were officially about the electricity crisis, but many of the protesters also had political motives against Dbeibah,” a political source told The National. “There is a deeper political conflict behind the demonstrations."

Prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, who leads the GNU in the western regions of Libya, where protests are largely taking place, is also facing calls for his resignation. Tripoli saw similar power outage-related protests against Dbeibah in May 2025.

Another group, the Tajoura Families and Youth Movement, also said it would join the protests by holding a boycott of state institutions. It focused more on what it called deteriorating living conditions and state services in Libya.

Reports have said that protesters demanded for the removal of both governments controlling eastern and western regions of the country. (Libya has two rival governments, more details of that history and those complexities beyond the paywall.)

"Neither the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity nor the rival administration backed by the eastern-based House of Representatives has publicly explained the cause of the worsening electricity crisis or announced measures to resolve it," The New Arab reported on 27 July.

Two oilfields resumed production on 28 July after protesters stormed and disrupted operations at the key Mellitah oil and gas complex as part of civil disobedience actions, at one point threatening a nationwide power blackout.

Because oil and gas operations are state-owned, the Tripoli-based prime minster's security force ensured freedom of expression but warned that "anyone who seeks to undermine the country's security or target state institutions will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law."

Euronews and The National reported that there is a dispute between Dbeibah and Mohamed al Mashey, the chairman of Libya's General Electricity Company—over what the Libya Observer says are claims of mismanagement amid growing finances despite ongoing power outages.

“In Libya, no one can give you a prediction... expect unpredictability and instability,” a political source told The National. “There is a conflict between the prime minister and the [head of the electricity company]. The electricity will be fine in a few weeks.”

Beyond the paywall is a deep dive into the rival governments in Libya, further context behind current events, and potential US involvement. Your paid subscription gains access and helps pay for human expert curation here.