Hundreds of Libyans on Sunday, August 23 in Tripoli expressed their anger at the deterioration of living conditions and corruption in this country bruised for several years by conflict, before being dispersed by the police.
Chanting " Libya!" Libya ”and“ No to corruption! ", Hundreds of Tripolitans, mainly young people, marched through the city center, to express their fed up with the deterioration of services, the frequent power and water cuts and the long queues in front of the stations. 'gasoline. “ We are tired of living without hope. that's enough! Ayman al-Wafi, a young man in his twenties, contacted by phone during the demonstration, told AFP.
Ignoring the restrictions in force in the face of the increase in cases of the new coronavirus in the country, the demonstrators first went to the headquarters of the Government of National Unity (GNA) before gathering on the Place des Martyrs in the center of the capital. At the end of the evening, the demonstrators were dispersed by the police who fired in the air.
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" We left (Martyrs') Square because the security (forces) started shooting in the air, " Aymen al-Wafi told AFP.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, the succession of conflicts have exhausted the population of this country which nevertheless has the most abundant oil reserves in Africa.
Undermined by divisions and struggles for influence, the country is now ruled by two rival entities: the GNA, based in Tripoli and recognized by the UN, and a power embodied by Khalifa Haftar, the strongman of the 'Is Libyan.
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This demonstration comes two days after the two rival authorities announced the cessation of hostilities and the forthcoming organization of elections in the country. These announcements have sparked both hope and mistrust given the precedents in a country torn for years by violence and where foreign actors are directly involved.