The Tripolitanian Society: Defender of the Capital or Master of Manipulation?

In the labyrinth of Libya’s political chaos, where state institutions remain fragile and legitimacy is hotly contested, a new actor has gradually stepped into the spotlight.

Known as the Tripolitanian Society, this informal collective has transformed from a civic voice into a political force — projecting its influence far beyond the confines of Tripoli.

Though it bears the capital’s name, the Society’s ambitions are unmistakably national. In the absence of strong, functioning governance, it has assumed a role that blurs the lines between community advocacy and political manoeuvring. Its rise is emblematic of a broader truth in post-revolutionary Libya: where institutions falter, informal power flourishes.

Claiming a voice for the capital — or recasting it?

The Tripolitanian Society presents itself as a guardian of Tripoli’s interests — a city central to Libya’s geography, history, and identity, yet frequently treated as a backdrop rather than a decision-making hub. It argues that Tripoli has long been showcased but rarely empowered, celebrated symbolically yet politically sidelined.

Through this lens, the Society seeks to reposition the capital not merely as Libya’s geographic heart but as its rightful political compass. To its supporters, this is long overdue: a response to years of marginalisation and imbalance in state representation, especially amid the failure to hold national elections and the ongoing paralysis of Libya’s legislative bodies.

But is the Society truly speaking for the city — or carving out influence in its name?

The Quiet Consolidation of Power

Despite lacking any formal constitutional status or electoral mandate, the Tripolitanian Society has cultivated real sway. Its influence stems from a potent mix of historical prestige, elite networks, and informal alliances — including alleged connections with armed factions operating in and around the capital.

Behind the scenes, critics allege that the Society has successfully lobbied for strategic placements across powerful state institutions. Names tied to its inner circle have reportedly surfaced in senior roles at the Central Bank of Libya, the Libyan Investment Authority, the Libyan Foreign Bank, and the Ministry of Finance.

Some reports suggest growing influence within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where appointments in overseas missions have allegedly been shaped by internal loyalties rather than meritocratic principles. To detractors, this is not representation — it is entrenchment.

From Local Advocacy to National Interventions

The Tripolitanian Society has not confined itself to cultural initiatives or municipal concerns. Instead, it has positioned itself as a vocal, often polarising participant in Libya’s national political discourse. Among its more notable interventions:

• February 2018: Chairman Mohamed Jamil Al-Mabrouk met with Labour Minister Dr Al-Mahdi Al-Amin to discuss workforce development and the integration of Tripolitanian identity into national policy.
• February 2022: The Society called for a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives and the dissolution of the High Council of State, accusing both of obstructing political progress.
• June 2022: It demanded the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of both legislative chambers, urging the creation of a technocratic caretaker government.
• February 2023: It condemned the 13th Constitutional Amendment as “reckless” and urged the UN mission (UNSMIL) to sideline Libya’s legislative bodies in favour of a civilian-led transition.

These actions underscore the Society’s self-perception as more than a cultural or regional platform. It sees itself — and behaves — as a de facto political actor with both the vision and the will to shape Libya’s next chapter.

Power Without the Ballot

The Society’s greatest paradox lies in its simultaneous visibility and unaccountability. It commands symbolic authority and strategic relevance — yet has never subjected itself to the test of public endorsement. It operates without a mandate, but not without consequence.

In a functioning democracy, such influence would demand scrutiny. But in Libya’s fragmented landscape, where governance is disjointed and elections perpetually postponed, informal structures often fill the vacuum. The Tripolitanian Society is neither anomaly nor exception — it is a symptom of systemic dysfunction.

A Mirror of Libya’s Struggles

Ultimately, the rise of the Tripolitanian Society poses a deeper question about Libya’s future: Who has the right to speak for the people — and on what basis?

Tripoli’s dilemma reflects the country’s broader crisis of legitimacy. The capital seeks to be influential without dominating, representative without being exploited. In this uncertain balance, the Society has emerged as both a response to marginalisation and a vehicle for renewed centralisation — depending on one’s vantage point.

Whether seen as a corrective force or a power cartel, the Tripolitanian Society is a product of Libya’s unfinished transition. In the absence of electoral legitimacy and institutional order, those who organise — regardless of title — will inevitably rise to shape the nation’s path.

Until a credible national framework is restored, the question is not whether such entities will emerge, but how far they will go — and in whose name they will speak.