Ramadan in Libya Marred by Soaring Prices, Fuel Shortages, and Economic Struggles

Libyans have been marking Ramadan with traditional feasts and fireworks, yet many are facing a difficult holiday season as rising costs, currency devaluation, and political divisions cast a shadow over the celebrations.

Fifteen years after the fall of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya remains politically split between east and west, with shortages of essential goods—including fuel—continuing to disrupt daily life, despite the nation’s vast oil and gas reserves.

During the holy month, families typically gather for pre-dawn and evening meals, stocking up on traditional treats. However, this year supermarkets have been rationing goods, and many petrol stations are reporting shortages. In the capital Tripoli, most ATMs were reportedly out of cash, leaving residents struggling to access basic necessities.

“Speculators have driven the dinar down, which is hitting our daily lives hard,” said Firas Zreeg, 37, while navigating a crowded supermarket. Prices for cooking oil have doubled in recent weeks, while meat and poultry costs have surged by 50%. Gas cylinder refills, officially priced at 1.5 dinars ($0.24), are selling for as much as 75 dinars ($11.85) on the black market.

Economic Pressure on Citizens

Libya continues to grapple with the fallout from the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. The country remains divided between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. While there has been relative stability in recent years, sporadic violence—including the killing of Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam earlier this month—highlights the fragile security environment.

In late January, the central bank in western Libya devalued the dinar by nearly 15%—the second devaluation in under a year—citing the need to preserve financial stability and sustain public resources. Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah acknowledged that the move “once again put the burden on citizens,” while Hanna Tetteh, head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, warned the UN Security Council that rising poverty and societal pressure could trigger further political and security challenges.

Economic mismanagement is compounded by the absence of a unified national budget and parallel state institutions, resulting in uncoordinated public spending. Revenues from Libya’s oil sector are declining, while central bank reports indicate that public spending is reaching unsustainable levels.

A Sobering Ramadan Milestone

This week, Libya marked 15 years since the uprising that toppled Gaddafi, with fireworks lighting the night sky in Tripoli. Yet for many Libyans, the celebrations are overshadowed by economic hardship.

“Security has improved slightly over the past three years, but the economic challenges remain massive,” Zreeg told AFP. Many citizens continue to navigate soaring prices, fuel scarcity, and a devalued currency while trying to maintain daily life and family traditions during the holy month.

Libya’s Ramadan this year underscores the ongoing struggle for stability and prosperity in a country still recovering from years of political division and economic disruption.