LibyaBy Rina Lidder, period 6

MAP

Libya is a country located in North Africa. It is a country that lies between Egypt to the east and Sudan to the southeast, borders Algeria and Tunisia to the east and Chad and Niger to the south

Demography

Population - 6,597,960 (July 2011 est.) Population growth rate – 2.064% Birth rate – 24.04 per 1,000 Death rate – 3.4 per 1,000 Infant mortality – 20.09 per 1,000 Life expectancy – 77.65 years TFR – 2.96 Ethnic groups – Berber and Arab 97% Sunni – 97% Language – Arabic, Italian, English

Leaders in Revolution

Gaddafi - Came to power in a bloodless coup in 1969 that replaced the pro-Western Sansui monarchy. Used brute force to cement highly authoritarian system. He used a system of divide-and-rule that balanced families, tribes and the country’s provinces against each other. He then took Libya through a brutal colonial period and a monarchy that was perceived as corrupt

Recently found dead, marking the end of the revolution.

Leaders in Revolution

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil -Served as Gadhafi's justice minister before joining the rebels at the uprising's start. On Aug. 21, he called on Libyans to build a state based on the rule of law. Headed the National Transitional Council, founded in the eastern city of Benghazi early in the six-month civil war to guide the rebel movement.

Col. Hamid al-Hasi - The commander for anti-Gadhafi forces in eastern Libya

Revolution

It began with a relatively organized core of anti-government opponents in Benghazi, its spread to the capital of Tripoli was swift and spontaneous. Colonel Qaddafi lashed out with extreme violence.

Protests in Libya started on February 15 following the arrest of Fathi Terbii, a human rights attorney.

“More than 2,000 people demonstrated overnight in the city of Benghazi more than 1,000 prisoners allegedly massacred by security forces in Tripoli’s Abu Salim jail in 1996,”

Revolution

The clashes between anti- and pro-government forces in Benghazi and Zentan, south of Tripoli, caused as many as 40 injuries

Rebels faced the possibility of being outgunned and outnumbered in what increasingly looked like a mismatched civil war. Then as Colonel Qaddafi’s troops advanced to within 100 miles of Benghazi, the rebel stronghold in the west, the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize military action.

March 19, American and European forces began a broad campaign of strikes against Colonel Qaddafi and his government

Revolution

Gadhafi worked hard to ensure that no person or group was able to replace him in his position of power. In doing so, he outlawed unions, crushed civil organizations, brutalized any opposition, and rearranged the army to make sure no officer gained too much power.

At least three NTC fighters, all in their 30s, were killed in Sirte and 17 others were wounded in fighting. At least 45 National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters have been killed and more than 200 wounded - mostly by explosions or gunfire.

Women also raped by soldiers

Similarities with American Revolution

Both attempting to escape heavy hand rule of a tyranny.

Outside forces assisted them, NATO helped Libya and the French helped the Americans

Some people were still loyalists throughout revolution

Both won freedom Trouble with unity People fled homes People being attacked

Difference with American Revolution

Due to technological advances, weapons used during the Libyan revolution are a lot worse than during the American. They include: bombs, tanks, better guns

Military tactics No treaty ended the war in Libya Civil war rather than international Media coverage is much larger Colonists were seeking freedom from an

entire country whereas Libya was looking for freedom from a single ruler

Predictions in Future

A more united Libya will emerge because Libya has a lot of money due to oil and similarly to the American Revolution it has given people a sense of national identity and patriotism. They may model their government similarly to a democracy so that the people may voice their opinions.

A lot of competition between tribal leaders for power

Better relations with West because NATO has assisted them.

References

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/libya/index.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15210806

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8304753/world-welcomes-libyan-revolution-leaders

http://thenewamerican.com/world-mainmenu-26/africa-mainmenu-27/6437-libyas-revolution

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-21/opinion/vandewalle.libya.uprising_1_moammar-gadhafi-libyan-citizens-libyan-army?_s=PM:OPINION

http://news.yahoo.com/libyas-revolutionary-leader-calls-civil-state-212544725.html

http://theweek.com/article/index/212527/post-gadhafi-libya-4-predictions

http://www.indexmundi.com/libya/demographics_profile.html