On Wednesday, the Canadian embassy in Libya said that the right to peaceful demonstrations in Tripoli should be upheld by authorities.
In a tweet, the embassy stressed that the right to demonstrate must be exercised peacefully and pointed out that “there should be no impunity, no arbitrary arrests, and no disappearances of demonstrators.”
Last Sunday protesters rallied in the streets of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to demonstrate against deteriorating living conditions and corruption. The protesters demanded that the Government of National Accord (GNA) be replaced over the country’s poor situation which they called a “slow death” due to collapsing public services, corruption and economic pressures. On their way to central Tripoli’s Martyrs Square, the protesters were scattered by gunfire.
On Monday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the excessive use of force made by the security personnel in Tripoli.