Hundreds of Libyans gathered in central Tripoli on Friday, marking the third consecutive week of protests demanding Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s resignation.
Chanting slogans like “Dbeibah out” and “the people want the fall of the government,” protesters voiced anger over recent violence and political stagnation.
By late afternoon, over 200 demonstrators had filled the streets, with more joining and blasting slogans through loudspeakers from their cars.
Libya remains divided between Dbeibah’s UN-recognised administration in Tripoli and a rival government backed by eastern military leader Khalifa Haftar.
Since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, the country has struggled with instability, with national elections postponed indefinitely since December 2021.
The latest unrest follows deadly clashes in Tripoli, where at least eight people were killed in fighting between rival armed groups.
Tensions erupted after a militia leader was killed by the 444 Brigade, an armed group aligned with Dbeibah’s government, triggering battles with the powerful Radaa force.
In response, Dbeibah issued executive orders to dissolve Tripoli-based militias, notably sparing the 444 Brigade from the crackdown.
The move further inflamed rival factions and raised fears of renewed conflict in the capital.
While Friday’s protest condemned the government, a separate demonstration last Saturday rallied in Dbeibah’s support, showing a city starkly divided.
Supporters of Dbeibah called for an end to militia control and a return to Libya’s 1951 constitution, scrapped by Kadhafi in 1969.
The United Nations continues to press for a permanent ceasefire and a path toward national reconciliation.
As rival powers dig in, Libya teeters between the hope of peace and the shadow of another civil war.