Case Study: The Right to Water in Libya

Introduction

Libya’s water security landscape is not only shaped by geographical factors but also by political dynamics that have significantly influenced the country’s water reality. Although Libya’s economy is heavily dependent on fossil fuels as its main source of revenue, the country is also rich in vast fossil-water aquifers, mainly non-renewable, which were discovered alongside oil in the 1950s. This abundance led to the country’s reliance on groundwater given its limited surface water resources and absence of rivers. In addition, rainfall is restricted to specific areas along the northern coastline, and demand exceeds the supply from renewable sources, placing further pressure on non-renewable sources. As a result, Libya faces a pressing challenge in managing its water resources effectively, requiring urgent attention and strategic interventions.

The country’s natural resources allowed Libya to become one of the influential states in Africa and the MENA region. After seizing power in 1969, Muammar Gaddafi significantly reshaped Libya’s political landscape and implemented policies focused on controlling its natural resources. The regime quickly made water a part of its large-scale “mega-projects,” emphasizing costly infrastructure initiatives such as the Great Manmade River Project (GMMRP) – a massive water engineering undertaking in the early 1980s. ‎The fall of the regime in 2011 and the ensuing political crisis exposed the fragility of these projects, structurally, politically, and economically. Moreover, water availability and accessibility became increasingly at risk because of the volatile political situation, posing a direct threat to people’s livelihoods and their fundamental right to water.

This paper aims to examine the root causes of the deterioration of the right to water by analysing the legal, institutional, and political factors that limit this fundamental right. By reviewing the main legal and institutional frameworks that govern water resources in Libya, the study seeks to highlight the existing challenges in water management that exacerbate these limitations, including fragmented governance, weak regulatory frameworks, poor implementation of regulations, and overlapping mandates among water institutions. The paper also assesses whether current frameworks adequately reflect and uphold the principles of the right to water.

The paper will analyse the role of Libya’s political instability and conflict in shaping the right to water, through social factors and tribal dynamics and their impact on facilitating or complicating accessibility to water, as well as how they exacerbate inequities in access and service delivery. It will equally evaluate the role of large water infrastructures, specifically the GMMRP, in promoting water security and ensuring access to water. Finally, the paper will provide policy recommendations informed by the stakeholders’ consultation dialogue held in Libya in October 2025, which focused on the right to water, offering insights into people’s perceptions, highlighting challenges, and providing opportunities for sharing ideas and opinions.