A senior member of Misrata’s Council of Elders and Notables has launched a sharp attack on the Government of National Unity led by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, describing it as the most corrupt administration Libya has experienced and accusing it of pushing large segments of society into poverty and financial hardship.
Anwar Sawwan said Libyans under the Dbaiba government have effectively been reduced to “social classes,” with the majority forced to stand for hours in queues at cash machines in the hope of withdrawing as little as 1,000 dinars amid the country’s worsening liquidity crisis.
According to Sawwan, social inequality has reached unprecedented levels, with wealth and privilege concentrated among a narrow political elite and their close circles, while ordinary citizens struggle to secure basic necessities. He argued that Libyans are now divided into multiple tiers, beginning with a small first class linked directly to power, followed by secondary and tertiary circles of influence, and ending with lower classes who bear the brunt of economic collapse.
“These last categories are the hardworking citizens who leave their homes early each morning just to search for a daily income,” Sawwan said, adding that many families can no longer afford meat except once every few days, if at all.
He also highlighted the growing pressure on public sector employees, noting that delays in salary payments and reduced purchasing power have forced many to seek alternative income sources, including working with their private vehicles to survive. Sawwan blamed these conditions on what he described as systemic corruption, poor governance, and the absence of meaningful economic reform under the current government.
Libya has been grappling with recurring cash shortages despite its oil wealth, with long queues at banks and ATMs becoming a familiar sight across major cities. Critics of the Government of National Unity argue that mismanagement of public finances, alongside political paralysis, has deepened public frustration and widened the gap between citizens and the ruling elite.
Sawwan’s remarks reflect growing anger within Libyan social and civic circles, particularly in Misrata, as calls intensify for accountability, economic justice, and a political transition capable of restoring public trust and stabilising living conditions.
