Protesters Demand Answers as Eastern Libya Grapples with Deadly Floods
Protesters in the eastern Libyan city of Derna have taken to the streets, demanding answers and accountability in the wake of deadly floods that have devastated the region. The demonstration outside the Sahaba Mosque saw angry crowds expressing their frustration and targeting government officials, including Aguila Saleh, the head of the eastern-based Libyan parliament. Some protesters even sat on the roof of the mosque, a prominent landmark in Derna.
In a display of their anger, protesters also set fire to the house of the former mayor of Derna, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, who held office at the time of the disastrous flooding. Hichem Abu Chkiouat, a minister in the eastern Libyan government, confirmed that Ghaithi has been suspended from his post. The parallel government in eastern Libya has also responded by dismissing all the members of Derna’s municipal council and initiating an investigation.
Monday’s protest marks a significant moment in the aftermath of the flood, which occurred when two dams outside Derna failed during a powerful storm, leading to a devastating torrent. As voices rose in unison, protesters chanted slogans, calling for national unity and emphasizing that all Libyans are brothers, highlighting the deep political fractures that have plagued the country for over a decade.
Participants in the protest voiced their demand for an urgent investigation into the dam collapse, which resulted in the loss of countless lives. Taha Miftah, a 39-year-old activist, blamed the government’s failure to manage the crisis and squarely held the parliament accountable. He called for an international inquiry into the disaster and emphasized the need for reconstruction under international supervision.
The death toll from the floods has not yet been accurately determined, with thousands of people still missing. Varying figures have been provided by different officials, but the World Health Organization has confirmed 3,922 deaths so far. Despite attempts by Saleh to deflect blame and label the flood as an unprecedented natural disaster, experts have highlighted prior warnings, including a study by a hydrologist last year that outlined the city’s vulnerability to floods and emphasized the importance of maintaining the protective dams.
Derna is located in eastern Libya, under the control of military commander Khalifa Haftar and overseen by a parallel government separate from the internationally recognized administration in the west, based in Tripoli.
As the people of Derna demand answers and justice for the devastating floods, their voices resonate with the urgent need for accountability and reconstruction. The protest serves as a stark reminder of the cost of political fragmentation and the critical importance of unified governance in addressing and preventing such disasters.
