In a clip that has been doing the rounds on social media, the unnamed vendor can be seen unpacking the archaic mobile phones from a red plastic bag and asking rhetorically if the gadgets are phones or historical artifacts. His order included high-end models of the late 2000s, like Communicator-type devices and stylish sliding handhelds, all of which are obsolete by today’s standards.
Une commande de Nokia arrive avec 16 ans de retard
— Renard Jean-Michel (@Renardpaty) January 8, 2026
Un revendeur libyen, installé à Tripoli, avait commandé ces téléphones en 2010, mais n'a reçu sa livraison qu'en 2026. pic.twitter.com/0SoXaMCK7w
The Libyan businessman’s order was stalled due to the 2011 civil war, which paralyzed Libya’s logistics and customs services. Like many other packages, the phones just gathered dust in some warehouse until someone recently discovered them and decided to send them to their proper recipient.
Ironically, both the vendor and the recipient of the phones are located in Tripoli, just a few kilometers apart, yet the order required 16 years to be completed. The story went viral on social media, with most users declaring themselves shocked by how conflict can severely disrupt everyday life and business operations.
Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, Libya has remained divided between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and the eastern administration of General Khalifa Haftar, who is supported by Russia.
