Syria: Tripoli protests escalate as calls grow for PM’s resignation
Mass protests in Tripoli have intensified calls for Libya’s interim Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, to step down, amid a fresh wave of unrest and violent clashes in the capital earlier this month, as reported by Saudi News Agency Asharq Al-Awsat on May 30th.
Predominantly led by youth, the demonstrations saw major roads and intersections blocked, particularly around the government offices on Al-Sikka Road, with key areas affected including Furnaj, Bifi, Zanata, Fashloum, and Yarmouk-Ganzour.
Protesters set car tires ablaze, blocked major roads, and shouted slogans demanding the ousting of Prime Minister Dbeibeh, expressing frustration over the deteriorating economic and living conditions. In response, security forces were dispatched to stop demonstrators from reaching the prime minister’s office.
These nightly demonstrations have grown in frequency, posing a significant challenge to the Government of National Unity. Activists have announced plans for a large protest in Martyrs’ Square on May 30th, calling it the “Friday of Rage.”
Nonetheless, various human rights groups and civil society leaders criticised the acts of vandalism that took place during the protests, cautioning that damaging public infrastructure risks discrediting the movement.
The “Sooq al-Jumaa Movement,” one of the main groups driving the demonstrations, distanced itself from any destructive actions, stating: “We reject corruption and oppose this government, but we do not support acts of destruction.”
They reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful protest and called for mass demonstrations centred on accountability rather than disorder.
Tensions have also escalated over the continued presence of armed militias in Tripoli, which many blame for turning the capital into a zone of lawlessness. Growing public anger has led citizens to release a joint statement condemning the violence.
They called on Prime Minister Dbeibeh and his interior minister to prevent Tripoli from descending into what they described as a “ghost city,” urging the dismantling of the Special Deterrence Force and tighter control over militias led by internationally wanted figures, including Osama Njeim.
At the same time, the Interior Ministry confirmed that security operations would continue in coordination with military units, as part of efforts to uphold the ongoing ceasefire.
Amid the volatile security climate, the Russian Embassy reported that Ambassador Aydar Aganin held talks with Mohamed al-Haddad, Chief of Staff of forces loyal to Dbeibeh, emphasising the importance of maintaining stability and avoiding further escalation in the capital.
Asharq Al-Awsat/ Maghrebi.org
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