Demonstrations and roadblocks spread across western Libya Saturday and Sunday seemingly mirroring the increasing summer temperatures and the frequency and length of the ongoing power cuts.
Small groups of youth – and it is overwhelmingly youth – increased their widespread protests, demonstrations and roadblocks - burning tyres, debris, and rubbish across western Libya including Bani Walid, Zawia and Zanzour - as well as the capital Tripoli.
In Tripoli severe traffic congestion was caused including the temporary closure of parts of the Corniche and the Second Ring Road – Tripoli’s main (old) motorway. There were burning barricades and demonstrations in several areas, included Ain Zara, Ben Ghashir, Dahra, Khalat Al-Furjan, Tajura, Siraj, Sug Il Juma, and Zawiet Al-Dahmani.
Trucks of soil or rubble were tipped in front of entrances of government/state buildings, including Tripoli’s Foreign Ministry in Zawiet Al-Dahmani, the state TV channel and the state Telecoms Holding Company.
The Alwataniya state TV channel was blacked and criticised for failing to cover the demonstrations. Both the Audit Bureau and Ministry of Transport were also blockaded in an attempt to stop employees entering for work the next day.
Mellitah gas processing plant
There are also reports of demonstrations opposite the entrance of the Mellitah Gas processing plant in Mellitah. Demonstrators wish to solve the purported problem of gas shortages to power stations by stopping gas exports via the pipeline to Italy.
In a statement purporting to represent the demonstrators, they claim they are engaged in peaceful civil disobedience. They warn employees not to attempt to enter their government/state buildings.
Changing demands of demonstrators
The demonstrations were initially sparked by the power cuts now increasing to over 12 hours at times in some regions. However, their demands seem to be changing from the need for a stable supply of electricity, to bringing down the head of the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL), to better general living conditions, better governance and accountability against corruption and the squandering of public funds - to bringing down the Aldabaiba government, to removing all the main power centres.
The demonstrators are calling for a national civil disobedience campaign.
Increased security around the PM's Office
Security was visibly increased over the last two nights around the PM's Office to prevent ''infiltrators'' from hijacking the demonstrations into an attempted politically motivated coup d'état.
GECOL promising more electricity ‘‘soon’’
Meanwhile, GECOL keeps tantalising the public – or intimidating them – with announcements that this or that generation unit is coming online ''soon'' – or that the new 1,350 MW Tripoli South Power Station is coming online ‘‘soon’’.
The morning after..
This morning, the General Works Company was busy clearing roadblocks and burnt debris from main roads and Tripoli’s Second Ring Road.
The power cuts and increased diesel prices have resulted in shorter production hours and increased costs. There is now a shortage of bottled drinking water which has also increased in price.
Meanwhile, the black-market price of diesel – vital to power generators -has spiked from around the LD 3 mark per litre to around LD 5 per litre. These contraband supplies are delivered under the cover of dark in fear of arrest by the authorities.
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