Protesters in parts of Libya have erected roadblocks and burned tyres to express anger over recurrent power outages, blocking streets and disrupting traffic as they demanded more reliable electricity services.
Scenes at several sites showed groups of residents piling tyres and other debris into city roads and setting them alight, creating thick plumes of smoke and forcing motorists to take alternative routes. The demonstrations appeared to be aimed at drawing attention to what participants described as continuing failures in electricity supply.
Organisers and participants have framed the protests as a response to a pattern of intermittent power cuts that they say have affected households and businesses. The tactics — blocking roads and using burning tyres to make their grievances visible — reflect rising public impatience with basic services.
Libya has faced longstanding challenges maintaining infrastructure since the 2011 conflict that toppled the former government, with electricity provision often disrupted by damage to facilities, fuel shortages and managerial problems. Those structural issues have left many communities vulnerable to rolling outages, which periodically spark public protests.
It was not immediately clear how national or local authorities responded to the latest demonstrations or whether any arrests or injuries were reported. Observers say renewed public unrest over utilities could increase pressure on authorities already grappling with political fragmentation and the task of restoring consistent services.