People gather at the Martyrs’ Square in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, to mark the 15th anniversary of the uprising against former Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. Libyans have been enjoying Ramadaan with feasts and fireworks – but soaring prices, a devalued currency and political divisions have left many with little to celebrate. Fifteen years on from the fall of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, the country remains split between east and west, while shortages of goods, including fuel, disrupt daily life, despite Libya sitting atop vast oil and gas reserves.
During the Muslim holy month of Ramadaan, shoppers stock up on treats, as families gather for lavish meals before and after the daytime fast that stretches from sunrise to sunset. But this year, supermarkets have been rationing their goods, while many petrol stations are short of gas. In the capital, Tripoli, most ATMs were out of cash this week.
Firas Zreeg, 37, said while weaving through a crowded supermarket that the economy was deteriorating, blaming currency speculators for the fall in the dinar, “which has negative repercussions on our daily lives”. The price of cooking oil has doubled in recent weeks, while meat and poultry prices have risen by half. Refills of gas cylinders, officially priced at 1.5 dinars (about R4) but often unavailable through state-run distributors, now sell for 75 dinars on the black market and at times more.
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Libya has struggled to recover from the chaos that erupted following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled Gaddafi. The country has largely been stable in recent years, although there have been bouts of deadly violence, including the killing of Gaddafi’s son and heir apparent, Seif al-Islam, this month. With security holding, many Libyans are more focused on their livelihoods.
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