Self-interest, ego, greed, betrayal of the motherland, lack of foresight, rigid ideological beliefs, extremist factions, and dictatorship can slowly turn a nation into a graveyard. This tragic reality can be seen in the histories of Libya and Syria. The people often remain silent witnesses as their country falls into ruin, while those in power fail to recognize the consequences of their actions or change course.
The civil wars in both countries were sparked by the Arab Spring, as people rose against long-standing dictatorship and oppression. In Libya, the uprising was met with a ruthless response from Gaddafi, and the country soon descended into chaotic fighting among various armed groups. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad sought the support of foreign powers to secure his hold on power, while in Libya the intervention of NATO took place under the mandate of the United Nations. In my view, the United Nations often appears to function merely as a body that authorizes powerful nations to intervene militarily in weaker states. Libya today lacks a unifying leader who can guide the nation toward stability, and its people seem trapped in a painful reality—wounded by conflict, helplessly watching the prolonged suffering of their country. This is the pathetic story of Libya since 1951.
Before 1951 Libya was divided in three regions Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan. Italy had strong hold in Cyrenaica, Fezzan was under control of France and Tripolitania was under Britain. Emir Idris I of Cyrenaica helped Britain in WW-II on assurance that it will drive Italy out of Cyrenaica. And Britain did so. After WW-II UNO general assembly approved the unification of these three separate independent provinces making United Kingdom of Libya. Emir Idris I was crowned as king of United kingdom of Libya.
But as a Libyan scholar quoted Libya’s independence as “artificially created independent state”. The reason is differences in their geography and culture. Sahara desert covers almost 95% of country and the three regions though were ruled by Ottoman empire were almost independent of each other. They had nothing in common. Cyrenaica is conservatively oriented towards eastern Islamic world and closer to Egypt culture historically. While Tripolitania is modern and closer in culture to Tunisia and Morocco the west Islamic world and Fezzan is tribal and isolated due to desert. The travel between these regions is very difficult for a common man and hence they now belong to same country yet they are separate.
And these difference among the provinces are somewhere responsible for prevailing Libya crisis due to mistrust, suspicion, jealously and disowning country under one flag. Failure to unite these provinces opened the door to foreign forces to play the game of greed for oil resources and internal war between different groups on Libya for power.
Period of Idris I Government 1951-1969
The state of Libya was one of the poorest countries of Africa. Idris took help of Britain and USA for economic help and allowed them to setup military bases in Libya. Oil was discovered in 1951 and to exploit he allowed foreign companies. High mortality rate, 6% literacy, only 1% land was cultivable, 6% pastures, no industries, extreme poverty and corruption among officials prevailed in society.
Causes of overthrow of Idris Govt
Idris is accused being indifferent to ruling three provinces under one flag. He was more attached to Cyrenaica rather than building the strong economy of United Libya. Idris had little support outside Cyrenaica. His rule was weakened by scams and growing Arab nationalist movement after Six day war of 1967 between Arabs and Israel. The Arab nationalism (Unity of Arab and its civilization) was unhappy with Libya’s western link and discontentment rose against Idris and his government was overthrown by military coup by Gaddaffi (only 27 years old that time). Let us have a look at the achievement of Idris and Gadaffi regime.
Then what actually went wrong that Gadaffi was murdered in front of his countrymen so brutally?
Post Gadaffi Period -Age of unending Civil war and foreign interference
Arab Spring revolution rose in Tunisia in 2011 to overturn their dictator ruler and this revolution spread like fire in Egypt, Yemen, Morocco, Syria, Bahrain and Libya where public were fed up with same dictator rule since decades. This revolution in Libya met dictator Gadaffi ruthless forces. People were killed, imprisoned in masses in Jan, 2011. In October a thousand rebels were taken out of jail and shot down.
There are three main fighting groups in Libya today. One is United nations supported GNA, another is General Haftar defected from Gadaffi formed LNA and third is armed tribals in South.
Formation of GNA
In March due to this oppression NTC committee (National Transitional Council) was formed by some army personals who defected from Gadaffi. Due to lot of atrocities on both sides and bloody civil war United Nations gave green signal to NATO forces to act and Gadaffi was killed in Oct, 2011. A UNO supported government General National Accord (GNA) was formed. But this government is weak and Turkey is supporting them together with Syrian imported mercenary brigades.
Formation of LNA
On other hand General Haftar who was once ousted by Gadaffi came back from USA and formed Libyan National Army (LNA). It also has support of hundreds of armed local brigades and mercenary from Sudan and Chad. Russia, France, Egypt, UAE and Jordan support as LNA was having strong hold in Eastern region which is oil rich and these countries have their vested interest in high quality oil of Libya.
Formation of Southern Tribal armed groups
In south of Libya the area is under control of different brigades who comprise of local tribe leaders who do not prefer direct participation in war but support LNA internally. Since April 2019 Haftar’s LNA has captured Tripoli but in June again this is captured by GNA.
The overall situation is that LNA is have control on about 70% of Libya and almost all oil production is under their control. Haftar is trying to “unify” Libya. Fierce and incessant war is going on between GNA and LNA. No end of this war seems in near future and is converted into another Syria.
Oct, 2020 developments– On Oct,23,2020 United Nations got signed 3rd ceasefire agreement between LNA and GNA. As said above GNA is UN recognised legal governemnt and supported by Qatar, Turkey, Italy and LNA lead by Haftar is supported by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Russia, France and Jordan. GNA policy is conservative and pro Muslim Brotherhood while LNA is said to be against Muslim Brotherhood. As per the ceasefire accort of Oct
- A joint army committee comprised of 5+5 generals of GNA and LNA
- Exit of all external militia, terror groups and mercenaries
- Oil production will be supervised by joint representatives of LNA and GNA This ceasefire accord succeeds or not is yet to be seen.
Any tourism in Libya?
Looking at the current burning Libya better not to travel to Libya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping for ransom and armed conflict. Also not at all safe for solo female tourists.
95% of Libya is covered by Sahara desert.
But it is not that Libya is devoid of old heritage It has a few places which were Phoenician, Greek and Rome establishments. Sabratha (Phoenicians in 500 BC.), Cyrene of 1st century BC, Leptis Magna (biggest city of old Rome in Libya) are some of them.
Libya in 2025
Libya is currently governed by a Government of National Unity (GNU), with Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh as the internationally recognized prime minister. The GNU was formed in March 2021 and is based in Tripoli. However, Libya also has a parallel body in eastern Libya, the Government of National Stability (GNS), which is established by the eastern, Tobruk-based parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR). This situation reflects ongoing political divisions and a lack of unified control throughout the country. Its economy heavily depends (95%) on oil exports, and it exports oil to Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and China.
Crime is widespread across Libya, and violent robbery, carjacking, and smuggling of fuel, drugs, weapons, and people are common across the country and in major cities such as Benghazi and Tripoli. Armed groups and local security services regularly carry out operations against criminal gangs.
Libya in 2026
Latest Libya Although a ceasefire was signed in 2020, clashes between militias still happen occasionally, especially around Tripoli.
Foreign countries are involved too—some support Haftar while others support the Tripoli government.
Because of this division, Libya has no strong central authority and political elections have been repeatedly delayed.
In short, Libya today is not in a full civil war but in a long political and military stalemate with rival governments and armed militias controlling different parts of the country.
Epilogue
The way incessant war is going on in Syria, it looks like Ego (Al Asad’s) is above motherland, and Libya’s ideology is “gain political power at the cost of motherland”. The wealth of high-quality oil which was bestowed to Libya to be used for upliftment has now become a cause of their suffering, displacement, poverty, and even death. The race among vested foreign interests is on for oil. The war seems to be unending. The economy is losing almost one GDP every year, and even if the war ends, it will have huge aftereffects on the economy for at least the next 30 years.
Gadaffi had brought certain great changes for the upliftment of the masses, per capita, housing, free medical care, and free education, but due to uncontrolled armed brigades and local tribes disharmony, everything was eclipsed, and Gadaffi had to die for his dictatorship. Since then Libya is being murdered daily.
A few lessons the world should learn from Syria and Libya are that dictators have to kneel someday and, secondly, foreign intervention should not be encouraged in internal affairs. Unfortunately, there is no single icon leader in Libya to handle the situation. The Libyans and Syrians learned nothing from war in 9 years, though the general public is now repenting the death of Gadaffi.
Updated – March, 2026
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