Libyans protest again and demand Fayez Sarraj's resignation
Despair has invaded the streets of Tripoli this Monday night. The Libyans have been enduring an armed conflict that has lasted nine years and are facing a deterioration in their living conditions. Fed up with the situation, they called for a demonstration this Sunday outside the government headquarters in Tripoli which was harshly repressed by the security forces. Fayez Sarraj, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord, announced an appearance on Monday to calm the protests and announced changes in the Executive to form a crisis cabinet. Despite Sarraj's attempts, citizens have decided to return to the streets, according to the Arabic version of the Al Arabiya television channel.
Demonstrators have called out against the presence of Turkish mercenaries in the territory and have complained about the lack of supplies, such as water and electricity, and the widespread corruption. The Syrian mercenaries fighting in Libya are paid in dollars, while the Libyans suffer from lack of liquidity, high prices and deterioration of basic services. Protests have also spread to cities such as Misrata and Sabha.
Sarraj said that the demonstrations that began on Sunday had not been organised with the necessary permits. However, he acknowledged that there had been excesses on the part of the security forces against the demonstrators. With regard to the improvements in living conditions, Sarraj said that these were structural problems in the country and that they were working to solve them. Power cuts have been a problem for decades and are very difficult to solve.
The UN mission in Libya on Monday urged the Government of National Accord (GNA) to carry out an "immediate and exhaustive investigation" into the violent repression of this Sunday's demonstration. "UNSMIL calls for an immediate and thorough investigation into the excessive use of force by pro-ANA security personnel in Tripoli yesterday, which resulted in the injury of several demonstrators," the organisation said in a statement, without specifying how many people were injured.
Videos and photographs circulating in social media show men in military clothing pointing their guns at protesters in one of the capital's streets. Ayman Al-Wafi, a young man in his 20s who attended the protest, told the AFP news agency that the protesters had left Tripoli's Martyrs' Square after "the security forces began firing into the air".
