Libya electricity blackout protests expose country’s failing grid

Libyans are protesting severe daily electricity outages, exacerbated by a heatwave, demanding an end to corruption and grid decay. Protesters in Tripoli have blocked roads and public buildings, calling for the dissolution of political institutions. Demonstrations extended to the Mellitah oil and gas complex, temporarily halting operations and impacting gas supplies for power generation. Experts and former officials attribute the crisis to decades of neglect and unfinished infrastructure projects. The widespread power cuts affect all regions, forcing residents to rely on private generators and disrupting essential services. International actors are urging Libyan unification to achieve stability and address the failing infrastructure.

Protesters stormed the Mellitah Oil & Gas complex in western Libya on Monday, escalating demonstrations against ongoing power outages. The General Electricity Company warned that this action, which involved closing gas lines to power plants, could lead to a nationwide power blackout and a collapse of the electricity network. Demonstrators in cities like Zawiya, Tripoli, and Misrata have been protesting for days over hours-long blackouts, demanding improved power services and the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's Government of Unity. Libya has been in a state of chaos since the 2011 uprising, with rival administrations in the east and west.

Protests have erupted in Libya's capital, Tripoli, as a civil disobedience campaign over prolonged power cuts and high electricity rates spreads. Protesters have blocked roads, including the coastal road in Janzour, and gathered outside the West Tripoli power station. Videos show protesters burning tires and closing major roads, as well as blocking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the offices of state telecoms operator Libyana. The campaign, launched by the Souq Al-Jumaa Movement, aims to paralyze the government and calls for accountability over alleged corruption and the dissolution of political institutions. The unrest has also reached the town of Tajoura, where the municipal office was declared closed.