cont’ from pg 27
urehead, but domestic and international critics claimed the reforms gave him virtually unlimited power. The new jamahiriya governance structure he established was officially referred to as a form of direct democracy,.
for Gaddafi, alleging that Gaddafi had been personally involved in planning and implementing “a policy of widespread and systematic attacks against civilians and demonstrators and dissidents.”
From 1977 onward, per capita income in the country rose to more than US $11,000, the fifth-highest in Africa, while the Human Development Index became the highest in Africa and greater than that of Saudi Arabia. This was achieved without borrowing any foreign loans, keeping Libya debt-free. In addition, the country’s literacy rate rose from 10% to 90%, life expectancy rose from 57 to 77 years, equal rights were established for migrant workers, and welfare systems were introduced that allowed access to free education, free healthcare, and financial assistance for housing. The Great Manmade River was also built to allow free access to fresh water across large parts of the country. In addition, financial support was provided for university scholarships and employment programs.
By 22 August 2011, rebel fighters had entered Tripoli and occupied Green Square, which they renamed Martyrs’ Square in honour of those who died. Meanwhile, Gaddafi asserted that he was still in Libya and would not concede power to the rebels.
Gaddafi assumed the honorific title of “King of Kings of Africa” in 2008 as part of his campaign for a United States of Africa. In February 2009, he was elected as the new chairman by the 53 member-nation African Union to spearhead The African Unions 12th AU heads of states summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia prioritizing the issue of forming the Union Government of Africa. In 2011, Gaddafi held summit meetings about introducing the Gold Dinar as the standard currency for which Libya would sell oil and other resources. The currency of the Gold Dinar would unify and strengthen the African economy, while diminishing the power of the dollar and the euro and thus upsetting the current global economy. On 27 February 2011, the National Transitional Council was established under the stewardship of Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Gaddafi’s former justice minister, to administer the areas of Libya under rebel control. This marked the first serious effort to organize the broad-based opposition to the Gaddafi regime. While the council was based in Benghazi, it claimed Tripoli as its capital. Hafiz Ghoga, a human rights lawyer, later assumed the role of spokesman for the council. On 10 March 2011, France became the first state to officially recognise the council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. By early March 2011, much of Libya had tipped out of Gaddafi’s control, coming under the control of a coalition of opposition forces, including soldiers who decided to support the rebels. Eastern Libya, centred on the port city of Benghazi, was said to be firmly in the hands of the opposition, while Tripoli and its environs remained in dispute. Pro-Gaddafi forces were able to respond militarily to rebel pushes in Western Libya and launched a counterattack along the coast toward Benghazi, the de facto centre of the uprising. The town of Zawiya, 48 kilometres (30 mi) from Tripoli, was bombarded by planes and tanks and seized by pro-Gaddafi troops, “exercising a level of brutality not yet seen in the conflict.” The United States imposed economic sanctions against Libya, followed shortly by Australia, Canada and the United Nations Security Council, which also voted to refer Gaddafi and other government officials to the International Criminal Court for investigation. On 17 March 2011 the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973 with a 10–0 vote and five abstentions. The resolution sanctioned the establishment of a nofly zone and the use of “all means necessary” to protect civilians within Libya. Shortly afterwards, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa stated that “Libya has decided an immediate ceasefire and an immediate halt to all military operations.” On 19 March, the first Allied act to secure the no-fly zone began when French military jets entered Libyan airspace on a reconnaissance mission heralding attacks on enemy targets. Allied military action to enforce the ceasefire commenced the same day when a French aircraft opened fire and destroyed a vehicle on the ground. French jets also destroyed five tanks belonging to the Gaddafi regime. The United States and United Kingdom launched attacks on over 20 “integrated air defense systems” using more than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles during operations Odyssey Dawn and Ellamy. On 27 June 2011, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant
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The National Transitional Council, established in 2011, refers to the state as simply “Libya”, but there is some evidence that in the beginning they also used the term “Libyan Republic.” In late August 2011, Bosnia and Herzegovina used the term in its formal recognition of the NTC. As of September 2011, the United Nations recognized the change of name of the state from “Libyan Arab Jamahiriya” to “Libya,” based on a request from the Permanent Mission of Libya citing the Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration of 3 August 2011. In November 2011, the ISO 3166-1 was altered to reflect the new country name “Libya” in English, “Libye (la)” in French. On 16 September 2011, the U.N. General Assembly approved a request from the National Transitional Council to accredit envoys of the country’s interim controlling body as Tripoli’s sole representatives at the UN, effectively recognising the National Transitional Council as the legitimate holder of that country’s UN seat. On 20 October 2011, Gaddafi was captured alive after his convoy was attacked by NATO warplanes and was brutally beaten and killed by The National Transitional Council forces. The National Transitional Council has been plagued by internal divisions during its tenure as Libya’s interim governing authority. It postponed the formation of a caretaker, or interim government on several occasions during the period prior to the Gaddafi’s death. Mustafa Abdul Jalil heads the National Transitional Council and is generally considered to be the principal leadership figure. Mahmoud Jibril served as the NTC’s de facto head of government from 5 March 2011 through the end of the war, but he announced he would resign after Libya was declared to have been “liberated” from Gaddafi’s rule. The “liberation” of Libya was celebrated on 23 October 2011, and Jibril announced that consultations were under way to form an interim government within one month, followed by elections for a constitutional assembly within eight months and parliamentary and presidential elections to be held within a year after that. He stepped down as expected the same day and was succeeded by Ali Tarhouni. At least 30,000 Libyans died in the civil war. Gaddafi vastly improved the quality of life for Libyans. He raised the standard of living in Libya to the point that, before NATO bombing, Libya offered the best health care standard and the best educational standard. He nationalized revenues from Libya’s oil reserves, and enhanced prosperity with the massive water project.Free farmland, free electricity, $50,000 housing money for newly married couples, interest free loans, and cheap gasoline prices. “Gaddafi assisted freedom movements in other countries of Africa, notably South Africa. He armed and financed the African National Congress of Nelson Mandela when the western powers were doing normal business with the white-dominated apartheid (race-separation) regime. When Bill Clinton visited newly independent South Africa and criticized Libya under Gaddafi, Nelson Mandela rebuked him using the following words: “We cannot join you in criticizing the people who helped us in our darkest hour.” —Nigigi Njorge Nearly six months after the ouster of Gaddafi, the NTC is still struggling to assert its authority across Libya. They face numerous challenges - perhaps one of the greatest being in the area of human rights. The World is certainly watching the future of Libya.
Progressively working together toward a constructive solution.
Volume Six Issue Two 2012