Libya’s Ramadan festivities, marked by fireworks and family gatherings, have been dampened by soaring inflation, currency devaluation, and deep political divisions. Fifteen years after the fall of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, the country remains split between eastern and western administrations. Despite vast oil and gas reserves, shortages of fuel and essential goods have disrupted daily life, with supermarkets rationing products and ATMs running out of cash in Tripoli.

Residents report worsening economic conditions, blaming currency traders for the dinar’s sharp decline. Prices of cooking oil have doubled, while meat and poultry costs have risen by about 50 percent. Gas cylinders, officially priced at 1.5 dinars, are selling for up to 75 dinars on the black market. The western central bank recently devalued the dinar by 15 percent for the second time in less than a year, a move Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah admitted has increased public hardship.

UN envoy Hanna Tetteh warned that rising poverty and social pressure could combine with fragile security to create new political and security challenges. Analysts say the lack of a unified budget and reduced oil revenues continue to strain Libya’s divided economy.

At least 53 migrants, including two children, died when a rubber boat capsized off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The incident occurred after the vessel, carrying 55 people, began taking on water about six hours after departing from the coastal city of Al-Zawiya. Only two Nigerian women survived and were rescued by Libyan authorities on Friday.

The IOM reported that the boat carried migrants and refugees from various African countries. One survivor lost her husband, while the other lost her two children. Both received emergency medical assistance. The organization added that nearly 500 migrants have died or gone missing this year while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Libya.

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a major departure point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking to reach Europe. The IOM also noted that at least 375 migrants died or went missing in the central Mediterranean in January alone, with the actual number likely higher.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been shot dead in the western Libyan city of Zintan. The incident was confirmed on Tuesday night by Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, citing its Arabic service correspondent Ahmed Khalifa. The 53-year-old was reportedly living in Zintan for the past decade. His political adviser Abdullah Othman confirmed his death, though details about the attackers and circumstances remain unknown. Libyan authorities have yet to comment on the incident.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi never held an official government position but was considered the second most influential figure in Libya between 2000 and 2011, after his father. Muammar Gaddafi was killed in 2011, ending his decades-long rule. Saif was imprisoned in Zintan that same year and released in 2017.

The lack of official statements leaves questions about the motive and perpetrators of the killing, as Libya continues to face political instability and fragmented authority.

A private jet carrying Libya’s Chief of General Staff, Mohammed al-Haddad, crashed in Turkish airspace after reporting an electrical malfunction, Turkish officials confirmed. The aircraft had requested emergency landing clearance before losing contact and going down. All eight people on board, including al-Haddad, four Libyan military officials, and three crew members, were killed.

Turkish Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun stated that pilots had notified air traffic control of the issue moments before the crash. Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah confirmed al-Haddad’s death, calling it a tragic loss for the nation and its armed forces. Among the victims were senior military figures such as General al-Fitouri Gharibiel and Brigadier General Mahmoud al-Katawi.

The Libyan delegation had been traveling to Ankara for high-level defense talks aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation. Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, with preliminary findings pointing to a possible electrical systems failure.

At least four Bangladeshi migrants have died after two boats carrying migrants sank off the coast of Libya near Al-Khums, about 118 kilometers east of Tripoli. The Libyan Red Crescent confirmed the incident on Saturday, reporting that the first boat carried 26 Bangladeshis, of whom four bodies were recovered. The second boat had 69 migrants, including Egyptians, Sudanese, and eight children, though their fate remains uncertain. The Libyan Coast Guard and Al-Khums port security participated in the rescue operation, and the recovered bodies were handed over to authorities under the supervision of the public prosecutor. The tragedy follows a series of deadly migrant boat accidents in Libyan waters in recent months, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 1,000 migrants have died in 2025 while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, marking a grim milestone in one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The latest tragedy occurred off Libya’s coast, where an inflatable boat carrying 49 people capsized near the Al Buri Oil Field after departing from Zuwara. Only seven men survived, while 42 others, mostly from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria, are presumed dead. The IOM provided emergency aid to survivors and reiterated its call for stronger regional cooperation, safer migration pathways, and improved search and rescue operations to prevent further loss of life. The agency warned that the death toll continues to rise with each new incident.

Authorities in Libya have rescued more than 100 migrants held hostage by human traffickers in the city of Ajdabiya. According to a statement from the Libyan Attorney General's office, the traffickers—who included nationals from Libya, Sudan, and Egypt—were holding the group, including five women, for ransom and subjecting them to physical abuse.

While the identities and nationalities of the rescued migrants have not yet been disclosed, officials confirmed that five traffickers have been arrested. Libya remains a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, despite the serious risks involved. As of December 2024, the United Nations reported that more than 825,000 migrants were residing in Libya.

The African Union has called for a permanent ceasefire in Libya following deadly clashes in Tripoli and protests demanding Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh’s resignation. At least eight people were killed in recent fighting between government forces and a rival militia group. The Libyan defense ministry stated it is working toward a peace agreement. Tensions escalated after the Prime Minister ordered the disbandment of several armed groups but excluded the powerful 444 Brigade, sparking unrest and violence.

A boat carrying 65 migrants has sunk off the coast of Libya, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. While some Pakistani nationals have been identified among the victims, the identities of others remain unknown. The boat capsized near the port of Marsa Dela in Libya's Zawiya city. The Pakistani embassy has sent a team to identify the deceased. Earlier in January, another migrant boat carrying 86 passengers sank en route to Spain, with 66 Pakistanis among them. Such tragedies often occur as migrants risk their lives in search of a better future.