The acting mayor of Al-Kufra, southern Libya, Masoud Al-Mudeer, announced that an Indian construction company will resume work on a stalled housing project comprising around 1,500 residential units. The scheme had been frozen for more than 15 years due to security instability.
The project, originally launched before 2011, was halted during the conflict years and remained dormant amid political divisions and economic challenges. According to Al-Mudeer, directives to restart construction were issued following a visit by Saddam Haftar, deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army, to the city on Wednesday.
The return of the Indian contractor marks a significant step in efforts to revive Libya’s struggling housing sector. The move is expected to stimulate the local construction market, generate new job opportunities, and help address mounting demand for housing in the remote southern region.
Libya’s housing sector has suffered severe disruption since the 2011 uprising, with dozens of projects suspended or left incomplete due to insecurity, financial shortfalls, and disputes over contracts. Al-Kufra, a strategic desert hub, has faced acute shortages of housing and basic services, amplifying the social pressures on its growing population.
Local officials expressed optimism that the revival of the housing scheme will encourage further investment and signal a gradual return of foreign firms to southern Libya, a region long neglected in development plans. The project is also seen as a test case for broader reconstruction efforts across the country, where stalled infrastructure remains a pressing challenge.
The resumption of work underscores ongoing attempts by eastern-based authorities to demonstrate progress in development and stabilisation. It also highlights the role of foreign partnerships in rebuilding Libya’s infrastructure and meeting urgent social needs.
