A shipment of Nokia phones ordered in 2010 has finally reached a store in Tripoli after 16 years, sparking laughter, nostalgia and a heartfelt moment online.
Delivery delayed by war
In a strange reminder of Libya’s long-running conflict, a mobile phone shop owner in Tripoli recently received a box of Nokia phones that were ordered back in 2010. The shipment was delayed after civil war broke out in 2011, leading to the collapse of infrastructure, customs systems and supply chains. As violence and instability took over, the phones were forgotten in warehouses for more than a decade.
The devices were classic button-based Nokia models that once dominated the market. The box included popular “music-edition” phones and Nokia Communicators, which were considered premium devices at the time but are now outdated by modern standards.
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What makes the story even more ironic is that both the sender and the receiver were based in Tripoli, just a few kilometres apart. Despite the short distance, the phones took 16 years to arrive, a delay widely blamed on years of unrest and broken logistics.
Unboxing video sparks nostalgia online
The video went viral on X (formerly Twitter), it shows when the long-lost package finally arrived, the shopkeeper could not stop laughing while opening it. In the viral video, he jokingly asks,"Are these phones or historical artifacts?"
The caption shares, "A Nokia order arrives 16 years late. A Libyan reseller, based in Tripoli, had ordered these phones in 2010, but only received delivery in 2026."
The unboxing clip quickly spread across social media, with viewers amused by the situation and the shopkeeper’s reaction.
Many users also shared their insights on how these conflicts can disrupt everyday business and life. Some even saw value in the old phones, pointing to growing interest in vintage technology.
One user commented, "Looking at the current geopolitical scenarios, these phones are absolutely valuable. They have no tracker."
Another wrote, "Nope. Those are prized trophies of a lost great era and worth more now."
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Another added,"With collector culture in America, he can probably sell them over here for double the profit he would if he would have got them when he ordered them."
Another user said, "The video is very funny. I tried to be serious, but the way they were taking the phones out, I burst into laughter."
