Mountain municipalities give Libyan government one week over stalled funding
Local leaders from the mountain regions reject recent cabinet financial allocations and accuse Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's government of unfair treatment.
Representatives of Libya's mountain municipalities have given the government one week to address delays in funding development projects in their regions. The group, which includes mayors, local leaders and community representatives, met in an emergency meeting in Yefren and called on Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and the Government of National Unity to release payments for agreed projects.
The representatives said projects approved two or three years ago have not moved forward because funds have not been disbursed, and blamed both the government and the Ministry of Local Government for failing to defend municipal rights. They said the delays have harmed residents, especially in infrastructure, water and health. They also rejected the latest Cabinet decisions on financial allocations and called for a review so that the municipalities receive what they consider their fair share.
The representatives said they are tired of repeated meetings, promises and unfulfilled commitments, and that their rights are not open to compromise or negotiation. While they said the statement was not a threat, they insisted they would no longer stay silent or accept further delays.
Why it mattersResidents in the mountain regions, who the representatives say already face hardship, will go without the stalled water, health and infrastructure work until the funding is released.