On 20 January 2026, a military group operating under the name Tripoli Protection Force (TPF) issued a formal statement demanding the removal of GNU Prime Minister Dbeibah’s government. The group accompanied its demand with a direct threat to halt the pumping of oil and gas, describing the move as a legitimate tool of national pressure to ensure their requirements were met.

The TPF expressed strong rejection of what it called the ‘policies of dependency’ adopted by the GNU, voicing significant dissatisfaction with the deteriorating living conditions of Libyan citizens and accusing the government of wasting public funds. Their statement called for the immediate removal and accountability of the government, which it labelled a ‘client government’ guilty of squandering the wealth of the Libyan people.

The TPF’s statement also emphasised its opposition to foreign dictates and the perceived pledging of state resources to external parties. This stance extended to a rejection of the International Criminal Court’s involvement in domestic affairs, referring to ongoing international investigations into Libyan cases. Additionally, the group denounced the continued expenditure of public money on what it described as ‘suspicious arms deals,’ arguing that such transactions hinder state-building and exhaust national resources.

By threatening the country’s vital economic lifeline, the group stated that the pumping of oil and gas would not resume until all legitimate popular demands were fulfilled. No specific timeframe was provided for the implementation of this threat. This escalation occurs amidst intermittent political and security tensions in the capital and western regions of Libya, exacerbated by persistent national divisions. The threat to halt oil production remains a highly sensitive issue with the potential for severe economic and political consequences for the state.