Ministers resign as protests intensify in Tripoli

Four ministers have resigned from Libya’s Government of National Unity amid ongoing protests in Tripoli calling for Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to step down.

Ramadan Bujanah, the second deputy to Prime Minister Dbeibah and acting Health Minister, announced his resignation and stated he supports “the Libyan people and their legitimate demands,” local media outlets report.

Other officials who have submitted resignations include Economy and Trade Minister Mohammed al-Huwaij, Local Government Minister Badr al-Tumi, and Housing and Construction Minister Abu Bakr al-Ghawi.

The ministerial departures come as demonstrations continue in Tripoli and other western Libyan cities, with participants demanding the dissolution of the current administration and establishment of a new unified government.

Protests resumed Friday evening following a period of violence earlier in the week. The capital experienced relative calm Thursday night, allowing Mitiga International Airport to reopen with Turkish Airlines resuming scheduled service Friday morning.

An official from the Interior Ministry stated: “Over the past 24 hours, no clashes were observed. It was the first night since Monday that residents could sleep without hearing explosions or gunfire.”

The recent conflict began Monday when the 444th Brigade, which operates under the Ministry of Defence, conducted an operation against the Stability Support Apparatus. This resulted in the death of Abdulghani al-Kikli, who had been a significant militia leader in Tripoli since 2011.

Additional fighting occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday involving the 444th Brigade and the Deterrence Force, which is connected to the Presidential Council.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all parties to respect the ceasefire and engage in dialogue, noting that at least eight civilians have been killed in the recent violence.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​