A stampede to get “chips” for free.. A video ignites controversy in Libya

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Scenes of crowding and crowding of citizens in front of a shopping center in the Ain Zara area in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, sparked a widespread wave of controversy on social media, after large numbers flocked to obtain bags of potato chips that were distributed for free as part of a promotional campaign. The scene brought back to the forefront the debate about the implications of this behavior and its relationship to the living and economic conditions in the country.

Video clips spread across social media platforms showed large crowds of citizens gathering and jostling to obtain the free product, in scenes that sparked mixed reactions. While many criticized the chaos and crowding that accompanied the distribution process, others saw that the scene reflected a state of dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction with the economic conditions experienced by citizens.

In this context, activist Khaled Al-Hatemi described what happened as a scene that “calls for astonishment and condemnation,” wondering whether Libyans had reached the stage of crowding and racing for a non-essential commodity that did not require this amount of panting.

Al-Hatemi considered that simply offering the product for free was enough to push some people to rush without thinking about the consequences of their actions, stressing that he was not opposed to taking advantage of free offers, but he criticized what he considered to be an exaggeration in the pursuit of a commodity available in the markets at a low price, stressing that human dignity must remain above such situations.

For his part, blogger Nazem Al-Tayyari commented on the incident sarcastically, saying that this crowding was not a protest against the rise in prices or the deterioration of living conditions, but rather in order to get “chips” for free, in a comment that received widespread interaction among followers.

The scene also raised other questions among bloggers about the motives of this stampede, especially since the price of a bag of chips does not exceed about 6 dinars (less than one US dollar), which led some to wonder whether the matter reflects consumer behavior related to free offers or is it a direct result of the economic pressures facing citizens.

While the scene revived the discussion about the economic reality in Libya, in light of the increasing complaints about the high costs of living and prices of basic goods, despite the country’s great oil wealth, which made the stampede scenes go beyond being a passing incident to turn into a subject for discussion about the social and economic conditions in the country.