LIBYA — A cellphone shop owner in Tripoli, Libya recently received what can only be described as a time capsule from the past—boxes of Nokia mobile phones ordered back in 2010, delivered after an extraordinary 16-year delay. The unusual incident has gone viral on social media, drawing laughter, nostalgia, and reflection from netizens around the world.

According to reports, the shipment was delayed due to the civil war that erupted in Libya in 2011, which disrupted customs operations, transportation routes, and national logistics systems. Amid years of conflict and instability, the phones were left forgotten in warehouses, only to resurface more than a decade later. A viral video captured the shop owner and his companions joyfully unboxing the long-lost devices, which included classic keypad models and once high-end Nokia units from the early 2010s.

While outdated by today’s smartphone standards, the phones sparked fond memories among viewers, many of whom praised Nokia’s reputation for durability and simplicity. Some netizens even joked that the devices now qualify as “historical artifacts,” while others suggested they could fetch value as collector’s items.

Beyond the humor and nostalgia, the incident offers a sobering reminder of how armed conflict can deeply disrupt even the most ordinary aspects of life, including business transactions. A delayed shipment may seem trivial, but it reflects how war freezes time—halting progress, livelihoods, and systems for years. In a world driven by speed and instant gratification, this extraordinary delivery raises a thought-provoking question: when conflict interrupts time itself, how many unseen stories of loss, delay, and resilience remain waiting to be uncovered? (Larawan: @Mog_Russen / X)