Hundreds of Libyans protest in Tripoli against deteriorating living conditions and corruption

Hundreds of Libyans have taken advantage of the ceasefire in Libya and protested this Sunday in Tripoli about the deteriorating living conditions and corruption. Citizens are constantly suffering from power and water cuts, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain petrol. The demonstrators have gathered in front of the headquarters of the National Accord Government led by Fayez Sarraj and recognised by the UN and have chanted slogans such as "Libya, Libya. No to corruption", to ask that he leave power, according to the Efe agency. 

The protesters began at the seat of government, but then moved to Martyrs' Square in the centre of Tripoli, ignoring the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which has shot up. The security forces followed the rally very closely and accompanied the Libyans on their journey before breaking up the rally by force. The UN support mission in Libya has called for an immediate investigation into the use of excessive force during the containment of the demonstrations, according to the Arabic version of the Al Arabiya network. The UN considers this to be a peaceful protest and a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression. Several witnesses have informed Al Arabiya that Turkish-supported mercenaries present in Libya have shot at demonstrators in the capital, Tripoli.

Fathi Bashagha, Libya's Minister of the Interior in the National Accord Government, has indicated on Twitter that the ministry protects the right to demonstrate and rejects the acts of vandalism that took place this Sunday. "We respect peaceful protest and the expression of opinion, but we will not accept the destruction of public buildings," explained the head of the Interior Department of the Government of National Accord. Bashagha reported that a group outside the protesters were those who broke the law and fired shots. "An investigation has been opened and will be referred to the Prime Minister and the Public Prosecutor's Office," said Bashagha. 

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has witnessed successive conflicts that have exhausted the population of the country that has the largest oil reserves in Africa. Since 2015, two ruling powers have been in conflict: the National Accord Government led by Fayez Sarraj, based in Tripoli (west), and a parallel government supported by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east of the country. The demonstration comes two days after the two sides announced a ceasefire and undertook to organise elections. This announcement reinforced hopes of an improvement in the situation in Libya, but has not dispelled the doubts about its feasibility owing to the interference in the conflict by foreign powers for years.