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LIBYA – The Fall of the Qaddhafi-regime

LIBYA – The Fall of the Qaddhafi-regime. Laszlo Csicsmann, PhD a ssistant professor. Introduction. Population: 6,5 millions High population density along the coast Largest cities: Tripoli and Benghazi Strong tribal affiliation: al-Magarha, Warfalla, etc.

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LIBYA – The Fall of the Qaddhafi-regime

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  1. LIBYA – The Fall of the Qaddhafi-regime Laszlo Csicsmann, PhD assistant professor

  2. Introduction • Population: 6,5 millions • High population density along the coast • Largest cities: Tripoli and Benghazi • Strong tribal affiliation: al-Magarha, Warfalla, etc. • Three parts: Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica • Relatively large oil wealth – Sirte basin is the most important (production: 1,6 millions b/day, 17. largest in the world, 3. in Africa, export 85 % to the EU). 3,3 % of the world oil wealth, 2,2 % of the world’s oil production. • 75-90 % of the annual revenue comes from oil and gas export

  3. Period of the monarchy • 1551 – 1911: part of the Ottoman Empire • 1912 Ottoman-Italian treaty after the war • Importance of the Sanussi Movement against the Italian occupation (from 1837 in the Hijaz) • In 1929 Italy used the name Libya first • 1942 British and French occupation under military rule • 1947 – peace treaty with Italy • 1949 – UN resolution – Libya should be an independent country • 1 January 1951. independence – Sayyid Muhammed Idris I. – the monarch

  4. The end of the monarchy • 1951: constitutional monarchy with . • The ruler is the head of the Sanussi religious movement and direct descendant of the founder of the movement • Absence of political parties • 1955 – first oil concession • 1959- oil export (Esso) • 1960s growing opposition

  5. The Qaddhafi regime • 1 September 1969 – Revolution by the Free Officers Movement ousted the king • Revolutionary Command Council – headed by Colonel Qaddhafi – promising a radical transformation • Imitation of the Egyptian model (Arab Socialist Union, 1971-1976) • 1973 – cultural revolution inspired by China • 1976-1978: Green Book – 3 volumes

  6. The qaddhafi Clan

  7. Internal politics during the Qaddhafi era • Cultural revolution = direct participation (ultra-democracy), people’s committees • National level: General People’s Congress • From 1977 revolutionary councils • 1977 – People’s Socialist Arab Jamahiryya • 1981 – growing opposition (National Front for the Liberation of Libya) – 1984-ben coup attempt, growing Islamist movement

  8. Foreign Policy of the Qaddhafi era • 1969 - foreign military bases and military • From 1969 self-defense • Nationalism and Pan Arabism, failed attempts of Arab • Failed intervention in Chad until 1987 • Support of the Palestinian case • International terrorism: 1988 Lockerbie and UTA plane bombings • From 1992 international sanctions by UN • African orientation – the establishment of the African Union

  9. End of sanctions and normalization • 1999 extradiction of the two terrorist suspects • 2003 – Libya agreed to pay a compensation to the families of the victims of Lockerbie + end of the WMD program – gradual withdrawal of UN sanctions • 2006 – normalization of US-Libyan relations • Positive economic benefits of normalization • The role of Saif al-Islam al-Qaddhafi • Moderation of Islamists

  10. What happened in 2011? • January 2011 – protest starts in Benghazi • The spill over effect of the Egyptian movement • Uprising from 15 February and later civil war • Qaddhafi and Saif al-Islam speeches • The role of the international community • UN SC 1970 and 1973 (17 March) • 19 March start of the implementation of the no-fly zone coordinated by NATO, today 17 countries participate in the bombings

  11. The Transitional National Council • 81 countries recognized as the legitim government of Libya • 27 February 2011 foundation in Benghazi • Mahmoud Jibril de facto prime minister from 23 March 2011 (technocrat served under Qaddhafi)

  12. Division within TNC • Main goal: topple of the Qaddhafi regime • In the beginning the aim of the TNC was to coordinate the rebel forces and they had no vision how to shape the future • Ideological division within TNC members • Political Islam is significant among rebels (Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, renamed: Libyan Islamic Movement) – presence of al-Qaeda? • Some members of the TNC are former member of the Qaddhafi regime: Mustafa Abdul Jalil – former minister of justice (currently serves as the chairman of TNC),

  13. Constitutional Declaration and the Future • TNC represent mainly the Eastern part of the country, in Misrata protests against TNC • 3 August – constitutional declaration – a constitution for the transitional period (Islam is the principle source of legislation) • New constitution within 3 months after plebiscite, presidential elections • No member of the TNC can run for future political positions • Monarchy or republic?

  14. Main Challenges • 21 August - The battle for Tripoli – 4 cities remain under Qaddhafi control (Bani Walid, Sirte, Sabha, Jufra ) • Where is Qaddhafi? ICC arrest warrant against Moammer al-Qaddhafi, Saif al-Islam al-Qaddhafi and Abdullah al-Sanussi • Preserve the territorial integrity of Libya and achieve political stability (Iraq, Somalia) • Start of the oil production • Solve the refugee question (1 millions – Egypt, Tunisia + IDPs)

  15. LIBYA in September 2011

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