On 28 November in the morning, the Benghazi Security Directorate announced that all public areas were secured ahead of possible demonstrations, with security units fully deployed to safeguard citizens’ right to peaceful protest under Libyan law. Authorities emphasized zero tolerance for vandalism or disorder, noting that the special police units are on 24-hour standby to maintain order and free movement. Citizens were urged to demonstrate responsibly, as officials stressed their priority is protecting Benghazi’s stability and safety while ensuring lawful public expression proceeds without disruption.
In the afternoon, protesters in several cities in the East and South, including in Benghazi, Derna, Tubruq, al-Bayda, al-Marj, Ajdabiya, and al-Jawf/Kufra, demanded that presidential elections be held without a delay.
The organizing committees stressed that the primary goal of these actions is to underscore the urgent need for presidential elections and to guarantee the participation of all eligible candidates, while fully safeguarding the right to peaceful expression. Protesters voiced strong opposition to any delays or obstruction that might prolong the country’s state of chaos and division. They further urged both local and international actors to support the electoral process without interfering in the will of the Libyan people, emphasizing that elections remain the sole path to stability and the unification of state institutions.
Quite a number of the protesters demanded the appointment of Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar as the president of Libya. Some student groups announced the suspension of studies and called for civil disobedience until their demands are met. The National Movement officially declared the launch of a peaceful sit-in outside the House of Representatives (HoR) in Benghazi, calling on the Government of National Stability (GNS) to suspend studies in all public and private educational institutions until the movement’s demands are fully addressed.
In the days after the initial protests, there were a few minor demonstrations calling for presidential elections.
On 29 November, a few dozen people held a sit-in outside the HoR in Benghazi, calling for immediate presidential elections.
On 30 November, about 150 young people held a rally in Benghazi demanding presidential elections.
On 30 November, schools in eastern Libyan cities saw widespread student absences and confusion after social media calls for civil disobedience clashed with official assurances that classes would continue. Although authorities denied rumours of a suspension, Benghazi’s education office cancelled exams due to disruptions, while anonymous online statements urged parents to keep children home in protest demanding presidential elections.