ISLAMABAD : Monitoring Desk – Protests have broken out in Misrata and Tripoli , with demonstrators calling for the dissolution of all political bodies currently governing Libya, amid growing public frustration over years of corruption, political deadlock and mismanagement. The protests raise concerns in Turkiye and Pakistan. Turkiye for suspected plane crash of Army Chief of West Libya. And Pakistan for signing of billion dollar deal with Haftar’s of East Libya.
At the heart of the outrage lies the death of Mohamed Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of the Western Region Government, who died alongside senior officers in a suspected plane crash in Turkey. What should have been a routine official journey has turned into a national trauma, and a political indictment.
Currently there are 4 different political bodies are ruling over Libya which includes the UN-backed Government of National Unity (GNU) in the Western Region, whose mandate expired in December 2021; the House of Representatives (HoR) in the Eastern Region, in office since 2014; the theocratic body High Council of State, based in the Western Region; and the Presidential Council, also based in the Western Region.
Protesters say these bodies no longer represent the will of the people and have failed to deliver elections, political stability, or effective governance.
Protests have broken out in Tripoli, as public anger spills into the streets over what demonstrators describe as a widening failure by the Western Region Government to protect Libyans, at home and abroad. For many Libyans, the questions are brutal and unavoidable.
If the crash was the result of technical failure, critics argue, then responsibility circles back to Abdulhamid Dbeibeh and his cabinet.
Why were the country’s most senior military figures placed aboard an aircraft that was allegedly unfit for service? Who approved the flight? Who signed off on its safety?
Turkey is not a distant or neutral partner. It is the closest strategic ally of the Western Region Government, a country that provided decisive military backing in 2019 when Libyan military under Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar advanced toward Tripoli.
Ankara is a NATO member, a modern aviation hub, and a state that prides itself on advanced air safety and intelligence capabilities.So how could a delegation carrying Libya’s top military leadership be lost under such circumstances?
Fresh public protests are reflecting growing frustration with the country’s prolonged political and economic crisis. The rallies highlighted mounting public pressure on rival authorities amid continued institutional paralysis and deteriorating living conditions.
In Zawiya, demonstrators gathered to demand the resignation of the Government of National Unity led by Abdulhamid Dbaiba. Protesters chanted slogans condemning what they described as worsening economic hardship, rising prices, and entrenched corruption.
Participants accused the authorities of failing to deliver tangible improvements to daily life, despite repeated promises of reform and stability.
Meanwhile, in Misrata, protesters adopted a broader political message. Demonstrators called for the dismantling of all existing political bodies in both eastern and western Libya, arguing that the persistence of divided institutions has deepened the national crisis.
Slogans emphasised rejection of the entire political class, with protesters warning that continued power struggles are obstructing any comprehensive solution to Libya’s long-running instability.
The demonstrations come at a time of sustained political deadlock, with Libya remaining split between rival administrations and competing legislative bodies. Efforts to advance a unified political process, including steps towards national elections, have repeatedly stalled due to disagreements over legal frameworks, executive authority, and security arrangements.
Economic pressures continue to fuel public anger. Many Libyans are struggling with high living costs, unreliable public services, and uncertainty over the country’s financial future, despite Libya’s vast natural resources.
Popular protests have become a recurring feature of Libya’s political landscape, often intensifying during periods of stalled negotiations and declining trust in governing institutions.
On one side, this is the state of affairs on both sides of Libya. And on other side, Son of General Haftar has signed USD 4 Billion defence deal with Pakistan only few days before the death of Army Chief of West Libya. General Haftar also announced the raise in the salaries and pensions of his side soldiers , that too after signing of the defence agreement with Pakistan.
