Libya protesters call for PM to resign

Hundreds gathered in Tripoli for a third consecutive Friday to demand the resignation of Libya’s UN-recognized Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, amid escalating unrest, AFP reports. Protesters blame his government for failing to prevent recent deadly clashes between rival armed groups in the capital, which killed at least eight people.

The violence erupted after Dbeibah announced executive orders aimed at dissolving some militias—excluding the powerful 444 Brigade aligned with his government—sparking backlash from rival forces. The unrest underscores the fragility of Tripoli’s security architecture.

Libya remains divided between Dbeibah’s western-based government and a rival eastern administration linked to military commander Khalifa Haftar. National elections, originally scheduled for 2021, have yet to take place.

While Dbeibah retains some public support, calls for his resignation and the restoration of Libya’s 1951 constitution reflect broader frustration with continued instability, armed factionalism, and the political deadlock that has plagued Libya since 2011.