Ahmad 
Widespread popular anger erupted and calls for large demonstrations appeared in Libya because of the statements of the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, “Abdul Hamid Dabaiba”, in which he confirmed his government’s intention to lift fuel subsidies.
As soon as Dabaiba’s statements spread that the decision to lift fuel subsidies was “irreversible” (to curb smuggling activities and drain public money, as he described it), social media was abuzz with calls from activists and citizens to demonstrate on Friday, January 12, 2024, under the title “Friday of Fuel of Anger”, in various Libyan cities against the unity government, and to demand its downfall, describing it as a “client of Turkey”.
The decision to lift fuel subsidies would inflame the Libyan street, which opposes this step due to the difficult living conditions and demands alternative plans and measures to the removal of subsidies.
The government in charge of the House of Representatives, headed by Osama Hammad, warned in a statement issued on Thursday of the consequences of lifting fuel subsidies, saying, “We are on the threshold of the month of goodness and blessing, and the sanctity it represents for Libyans and the basic needs it requires, which require us to focus and be keen to provide them and reduce the burden on them, and not to issue decisions that exacerbate the suffering of citizens, and will affect all aspects of life and the state’s educational, health, industrial and commercial sectors.”
The government said that it is not possible to take “such decisions from any party in such a hasty manner without studying their consequences, dimensions and damages, and without creating mechanisms that ensure their success and do not affect the needs of the citizen, and in a way that does not affect the stability of the country economically and financially.”
The government charged by the House of Representatives accused the government of “Dabaiba” of wasting hundreds of billions “without building a single vital facility that makes Libya dispense with the import of fuel and move from the category of consumer importers to the row of exporters investors, did not establish a refinery, did not renew or develop the existing ones, but did not carry out basic maintenance for them, and we are surprised by its actions towards Libyan oil and gas.”
She stressed that the decisions on the aspects of spending and disposing of the people’s resources can only be carried out through the elected legislative authority, adding that “the acquired rights of the Libyan people can only be affected by laws and legislation issued by the sole legislative authority in the country.”
The Government of Eastern Libya confirmed that it will proceed with the implementation of the relevant judicial rulings, appointing judicial guards over Libyan oil funds, and called on them to exercise their duties and take all the measures imposed by law on them.