Libyan Crisis.

LIBYA - It is a country in the African continent and has a coastline with the Mediterranean Sea.

History of Libya

1911-1943 --> Libya was an Italian colony. Libiyans were exploited by the European colonists. Libya witnessed conflict between Italian and British troops during World War 2.

1943-1951 --> Libya was controlled by the Allied powers (British and French).

1951 --> Libya got independence. Libya was under the rule of King Idris, the monarch of Libya (western-allied).

1969 --> Government of King Idris was overthrown by a military coup led by Muammar Al-Gaddafi.

Muammar Al-Gaddafi

▪In 1969, King Idris was overthrown while he was abroad in Turkey for medical treatment.

▪Gaddafi was a general in Idris army and made a strategy to overthrow him.

▪Gaddafi was named Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council(RCC), Libya's new ruling body.

▪He hated the western imperialism.

▪Many reforms were brought by him in the field of agriculture, infrastructure and oil.

▪In 1973, all foreign oil producers active in Libya were nationalised. For Gaddafi this was an important step towards socialism.

▪It proved an Economic success. GDP increased significantly from $3.8 billion in 1969 to $24 billion in 1979. The Libyan's standard of living greatly improved over the first decade of Gaddafi's administration.

▪Due to these reforms, country flourished in first 4 years but then the dark period followed and went to hell.

▪He wanted the unity of Arab world and specially with Egypt where his hero lived, General Abdel Nasser.

▪He banned alcohol consumption, night clubs and christian churches. Traditional Libyan dress was encouraged and promoted Arabic.

1969-1973 --> Many social welfare reforms. This period was a flourishing period.

▪ In the mid-1970s, Gaddafi published the 1st volume of the Green Book, an explaination of his political philosophy.

▪He vocally opposed zionism and Israel and expelled Jewish.

▪Gaddafi's ruling style started becoming oppressive and eccentric. 

▪He implemented a very brutal and dangerous policy to abolish all sorts of law and order and ultimately gave powers to people. --> terrorists and criminals emerged and they began controlling and public was facing attrocities. (NO JUSTICE WAS THERE)

▪The people started turning against him and army officers plotted against him (he saved many such attempts).

▪Gaddafi wanted to build the Third world as US and USSR were supreme powers at that time, so he wanted to build a third bloc. He started military build-up.

▪RCC began to control everything. Gaddafi's government declared a state monopoly on foreign trade.

▪Large amounts of oil revenue beign spent for foreign causes (provided funds to Che Guevara).

▪He started a 'Popular Revolution' (based on the Cultural revolution by Mao Zedong).

▪He brought a 5-point plan, dissolving existing laws and replacing them with revolitionary enactments (removing all democratic institutions).

▪Libya began to turn towards Socialism.

▪In 1980, he took control of the press.

▪In 1979, the US placed Libya on its list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism". Many US sanctions placed on Libya. (Many terrorist attacks in west happened for which Libya was accused)

▪In 1990s, the relationship between Gaddafi and West began to thaw.

▪Gaddafi faced a growing threat from Islamists who opposed his rule.

2011 -->  Gaddafi was killed by the rebel forces.

▪NATO coalition began to provide support to the rebel forces and NATO's military intervention proved decisive.

The country fell into the chaos after his death, with jihadist groups capturing pockets.

PRESENT SCENARIO -  Civil Crisis

Presently 2 governments are operating in Libya:-

1. Government of National Accord (GNA)

▪Based in Tripoli (West Libya)

▪Head (current president of Libya) -> Fayez al-Sarraj.

▪Backed by UN, USA and Turkey.

▪Their terrorist policy is to talk with them and maintain peace.

2. Libyan House of Representatives (HOR)

▪Based in Torbuk (East Libya).

▪Commander of Torbuk based Libyan National army (loyal to HOR) -> Khalifa Haftar

▪Backed by Egypt,UAE and Russia.

▪They want to kill the terrorists (Operation Dignity).

Early this year (Jan 2020), Turkey sent weapons and mercenaries to Tripoli, in its most audacious foreign intervention. Haftar's plan to capture Tripoli was thwarted by the Turkey.