Domestic responses to the 2011 Libyan civil war
Encyclopedia
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Government resignations
This is a list of officials who resigned or refused to take orders from the Gaddafi regime during the 2011 Libyan civil war2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
.
Ministers
- Minister for Immigration and Expatriates Ali Errishi, resigned 20 February 2011
- Justice Minister Mustafa Abdul JalilMustafa Abdul JalilMustafa Abdul Jalil or Abdul-Jalil is the Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, and as such serves as head of state in Libya's caretaker government which was formed as a result of the 2011 Libyan civil war. He is also a spokesman for the city of Bayda...
, resigned 21 February 2011 - Interior Minister and Army General Abdul Fatah YounisAbdul Fatah YounisAbdul Fatah Younis , sometimes transliterated Fattah Younis or Fattah Younes or Fatah Younes, was a senior military officer in Libya. He held the rank of Major General and the post of Minister of Interior, but resigned on 22 February 2011 to defect to the rebel side in what was to become the 2011...
, defected 22 February 2011 as he announced his support for the protestors - Foreign Affairs Minister Moussa Koussa, resigned and fled to Britain on 30 March 2011
- Oil Minister Shukri GhanemShukri GhanemShukri Mohammed Ghanem is a Libyan politician who was General Secretary of the General People's Committee of Libya from June 2003 until March 2006 when, in the first major government re-shuffle in over a decade, he was replaced by his deputy, Baghdadi Mahmudi...
defected mid-May 2011 and arrived in Rome two weeks later - Libyan Labour Minister, Al-Amin Manfur, defected and joined the opposition at a meeting of the International Labour OrganizationInternational Labour OrganizationThe International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the...
in GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. - Interior Minister, Nasr al-Mabrouk Abdallah, allegedly left to Tunisia on 14 August 2011. On 15 August, he arrived in Cairo by plane with nine of his family members without any advance warning, according to Egyptian airport officials; he claimed to be "on a tourist visit". Abdallah, a military general, succeeded to the post of Interior Minister following Abdul Fatah Younis' resignation and defection to the rebel side, and had preceded Younis to the position in an earlier term of appointment.
Other officials
- Nouri Al-Mismari, former head of protocol
- Ahmad Qaddaf al-Damm, a cousin and aide of Gaddafi has fled to Cairo reporting of "grave violations to human right and human and international laws."
- Abdul-Rahman al-Abbar, Libyan Prosecutor General resigned on 25 February 2011 and joined the opposition.
- Mohamed Amer Bayou, spokesman for the Gaddafi regime, resigned on 25 February over violence against protesters.
- Youssef Sawani, a senior aide to Muammer Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, resigned from his post "to express dismay against violence".
Diplomatic service
| Hoist Country/ Organization |
Official | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Arab League |
Ambassador Abdulmoneim al-Honi | 20 February 2011 | The reason for his resignation was the "oppression against protesters". |
| The Libyan delegation to the Arab League in Cairo has renounced Gaddafi and now represents 'the people' | 25 February 2011 | They condemned his attack on "unarmed citizens". | |
 United Nations |
Ambassador Abdel Rahman Shalgham Abdel Rahman Shalgham Abdel Rahman Shalgam is a Libyan politician. He was Foreign Minister of Libya from 2000 to 2009.From 1984 to 1995, before taking the office of Foreign Minister, Abdel Rahman Shalgham was Secretary of Libya's People's Bureau to Rome, Italy.From 1998 to 2000 he was appointed Secretary of Foreign... |
25 February 2011 | Did not resign, but denounced Gaddafi in a speech before the Security Council and no longer supports the regime. |
| Deputy Ambassador Ibrahim Omar Al Dabashi | 21 February 2011 | Did not resign, but no longer supports government. On 26 February 2011, he stated that he supported "in principle" the alternative government National Transitional Council The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,... being formed in Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... . |
|
| Delegation to the Human Rights Council Entire mission to the UN in Geneva |
25 February 2011 | ||
| UNESCO UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations... |
Ambassador Abdoulsalam El Qallali | 25 February 2011 | |
 Australia |
Musbah Allafi | 20 February 2011 | |
 Austria |
Embassy staff | 23 February 2011 | The Libyan Embassy in Austria condemned 'excessive violence against peaceful demonstrators', stated that they represent the Libyan people and offered condolences to the families of the victims. |
 Bangladesh |
Ambassador AH Elimam | 20 February 2011 | |
 Belgium |
Ambassador | 21 February 2011 | |
 Canada |
Counsellor Ihab Al-Mismari Ihab Al-Mismari Ihab Al-Mismari is a former Libyan Counselor to Canada. He is also the son of former protocol chief Nuri Al-Mismari.On Wednesday, 23 February, he told the Toronto Star he resigned as counselor because the embassy's chargé d'affaires was "hiding" the gravity of the deadly crackdown back home... |
23 February 2011 | Son of Gaddafi's former protocol chief Nuri Al-Mismari told the Toronto Star he resigned because embassy's chargé d'affaires was "hiding" the gravity of the deadly crackdown back home. “...killing the friends with whom I grew up, they are killing my brothers and sisters.” |
 Mainland China |
Second Secretary to the ambassador Hussein Sadiq al Musrati Hussein Sadiq al Musrati Hussein Sadiq al Musrati is the former Libyan ambassador to China.On 20 February 2011, during a live on-air interview with Al Jazeera about the 2011 Libyan civil war, al Musrati resigned in support of the protesters.- References :... |
20 February 2011 | He also called on the army to intervene and called for all Libya's diplomats to resign |
 Egypt |
Consular employees in Alexandria | 22 February 2011 | Staff at the Libyan consulate in Alexandria removed the Gaddafi-era green flag and joined protestors outside |
| Consul in Cairo Faraj Saeed al-Aribi | 12 May 2011 | The consul in Cairo said that he had quit his job and joined the rebels | |
 European Union and BeneluxBenelux The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany... |
Ambassador Hadeiba Alhadi and Embassy staff | 25 May 2011 | |
 Early Modern France |
Ambassador Mohamed Salaheddine Zarem | 25 February 2011 | |
 Hungary |
Embassy staff (undefined) | 22 February 2011 | Two members of the staff left the embassy to join the protesters in front of the building. On 21 March, the Libyan embassy in Budapest is seen flying the old tricolor flag which indicates that they have officially changed sides in favor of the National Transitional Council. |
 India |
Ambassador Ali al-Essawi | 21 February 2011 | |
 Indonesia |
Ambassador Salaheddin M. El Bishari | 21 February 2011 | |
 Jordan |
Ambassador Mohammed Hassan Al Barghathi | 24 February 2011 | |
 Malaysia |
Embassy staff | 22 February 2011 | Distanced themselves from the government and called the protests a "massacre." |
 Mali |
Consul general Musa Al-Koni (later referred as "Musa Kuni") | 5 March 2011 | Later accused by Malian officials of being an "impostor" who initially recruited Tuareg mercenaries before fleeing to Paris with the money entrusted to him for that purpose. |
 Malta |
Embassy staff | 22 February 2011 | Left the embassy to join the protestors in front of it. The embassy is now flying the flag of the protestors. |
 Morocco |
Embassy staff | 23 February 2011 | Staff destroyed images of Muammar Gaddafi and destroyed the Gaddafi-era flag. |
 Namibia |
Second-highest ranking diplomat Saad Bakar | 3 March 2011 | The second-highest ranking diplomat in Namibia, Saad Bakar, his wife and four children has left for a Mediterranean country to join the opposition movement. |
 Netherlands |
Embassy staff | 8 March 2011 | Replacement of the Gaddafi-era flag with the Libyan 1951–1969 flag as used by the 2011 protesters; no further comments where made. |
 Poland |
Ambassador | 22 February 2011 | |
 Portugal |
Ambassador Ali Ibrahim Emdored | 25 February 2011 | |
 Somalia |
Ambassador Issa Ashur | 26 February 2011 | Announced he is "joining the revolution", and would continue to carry out his duties "as a representative of the Libyan people" |
 Sweden |
Ambassador; Deputy Ambassador Abdelmagid Buzrigh; non-diplomatic staff |
23 February 2011 | After days of protests, the embassy announced on 23 February that they no longer support Gaddafi and lifted the former Libyan flag |
 Switzerland |
Embassy staff | 11 March 2011 | "The members of the embassy no longer have any link to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, and call on all countries to follow the example set by the Republic of France in recognising the National Transitional Council which represents the interests of the Libyan people". |
 United States |
Ambassador Ali Suleiman Aujali; | 22 February 2011 | However, he resigned on 22 February saying he does not serve the "dictatorship." On 26 February 2011, he stated that he supported the efforts to form an alternative government National Transitional Council The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,... in Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya... . |
Contrary to previous reports, the Ambassador of Libya to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
has not resigned, but did not want to discuss his support for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
According to the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, the Ambassador of Libya to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is on "sick leave".
A growing number of Libyan embassies around the world have started to fly the former flag of Libya
Flag of Libya
The Libyan Independence Flag or Flag of Libya was the original flag of the Kingdom of Libya introduced in 1951 following the creation of the Libyan state in the post World War II period...
used between 1951 and 1969.
Military
- Abdul Fatah YounisAbdul Fatah YounisAbdul Fatah Younis , sometimes transliterated Fattah Younis or Fattah Younes or Fatah Younes, was a senior military officer in Libya. He held the rank of Major General and the post of Minister of Interior, but resigned on 22 February 2011 to defect to the rebel side in what was to become the 2011...
, interior minister who resigned and defected, held the position of Major General, and was the top military leader. - Major General Suleiman MahmoudSuleiman MahmoudSuleiman Mahmoud al-Obeidi is a senior military officer in Libya. He was formerly a commander in Muammar Gaddafi's army. He was commander of the Tobruk Military Region. He was amongst the first of the army hierarchy to support the 2011 Libyan civil war...
whom Al Jazeera describes as "a commander of the Libyan army in Tobruk" called Colonel Gaddafi "a tyrant" and announced that he and his forces changed sides towards the protestors. - On 1 March, Brigadier Musa’ed Ghaidan Al Mansouri the head of the Al WahatAl WahatAl Wahat , occasionally spelt Al Wahad or Al Wahah is one of the districts of Libya. Its capital and largest city is Ajdabiya.-History:...
Security Directorate and Brigadier Hassan Ibrahim Al Qarawi defected to the anti-government side. - Brigadier Dawood Issa Al Qafsi also said that he "join[s] the Feb 17 revolution. With me are officers, non commissioned officers and soldiers in the Armed Forces units in Ajdabiya, Brega, Bisher, Ogaila, Sultan and Zuwetina...Glory to the martyrs of the revolution...We announce that we join the Libyan Military Council formed in Benghazi." This came after he said "two war planes took off from Al Qurdabiyeh base in Sirte for a raid on the town of Ajdabiya. It was confronted by Anti-aircraft guns and forced it to flee without human casualties. We call on our honorable people in Sirte to intervene and to advice their sons to refuse bombarding any Libyan town to spare the blood of the innocent of our great people."
- Two Libyan Air ForceLibyan Air ForceThe Libyan Air Force is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the 2011 Libyan civil war, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat capable aircraft operating from 13 military airbases in...
colonels each flew their Mirage F1Dassault Mirage F1The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation as a successor of the Mirage III family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the French Air Force in the early seventies...
fighter jets to Malta after being ordered to carry out air strikes against anti-government protesters in Benghazi. One of the Libyan colonels has reportedly requested asylum. - On 13 March 2011, Ali Atiyya, a colonel of the Libyan Air ForceLibyan Air ForceThe Libyan Air Force is the branch of the Libyan Armed Forces responsible for aerial warfare. In 2010, before the 2011 Libyan civil war, the Libyan Air Force personnel strength was estimated at 18,000, with an inventory of 374 combat capable aircraft operating from 13 military airbases in...
at the Mitiga military airport, near TripoliTripoliTripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
defected and joined the rebellion. - Colonel Nuretin Hurala, of the Libyan Navy, commanding Benghazi Naval base and his command, defected to the rebellion.
Business actions
The Arabian Gulf Oil CompanyArabian Gulf Oil Company
The Arabian Gulf Oil Company is an oil company based in Benghazi, Libya, engaged in crude oil and natural gas exploration, production and refining. It was a subsidiary of the state-owned National Oil Corporation . -Overview:...
, the second largest state-owned oil company in Libya, announced plans to use oil funds to support anti-Gaddafi forces.
By 27 February, Libya's biggest oil company, Agaco, turned against the Gaddafi government.
Other leaders
Islamic leaders and clerics in Libya, notably the Network of Free Ulema – LibyaNetwork of Free Ulema – Libya
The Network of Free Ulema – Libya is a group of senior religious leaders, or ulama, from all areas of Libya. Due to the persistent security constraints with families and associates of those opposing Muammar Gaddafi being taken hostage none of the names of members have been released...
urged all Muslims to rebel against Gaddafi.
The Warfalla
Warfalla
The Warfalla are a major Arab or Arab-Berber tribal group of Tripolitania, Libya.The Warfalla historically inhabited the area of what is between the towns of Bani Walid, Sirte, Sabha, and Benghazi approximately South and East of Tripoli....
, Tuareg and Magarha
Magarha
The Magarha is a major Arab tribal group of Libya. The Magarha are Libya's second largest tribe, with an estimated 1 million members...
tribes have announced their support of the protesters. The Zuwayya
Zuwayya
The Zuwayya are an independent Murabtin tribe, one of the major Arab Bedouin tribes of Cyrenaica, Libya.Traditionally practicing nomadic pastoralism of sheep and camels in a triangular area with its apex at Ajdabiya, the Zuwayya conquered the richest oasis of the interior, Kufra, in 1840,...
tribe, based in eastern Libya, have threatened to cut off oil exports from fields in their part of the country if Libyan security forces continued attacking demonstrators.
Former royals
Libyan-throne claimant, Muhammed El Senussi, sent his condolences "for the heroes who have laid down their lives, killed by the brutal forces of Gaddafi" and called on the international community "to halt all support for the dictator with immediate effect." Senussi said that the protesters would be "victorious in the end" and calls for international support to end the violence.On 24 February, Senussi gave an interview to Al Jazeera English where he called upon the international community to help remove Gaddafi from power and stop the ongoing "massacre". He has dismissed talk of a civil war saying "The Libyan people and the tribes have proven they are united".
Questioned about what shape a new government could take, and whether the 1951 royal constitution could be revived, Senussi said that such questions are "premature and are issues that are to be decided by the Libyan people," adding that for now the priority is to stop the "killing of innocent people." On whether he desires to return to Libya he says "The Senussi family considers itself as in the service of the Libyan people." When asked about reestablishing the monarchy, he stated that he "is a servant to Libyan people, and they decide what they want".
The White House said it will not specify which individuals and groups it is working and reaching out with, when asked if it supports Senussi's calls for international support.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he stated that it is too early to answer if the monarchy in Libya could be restored and if he will be active in Libyan poltics. He also says the main objective is to end the violence on the streets in Libya.
On 3 March, it was announced that he planned to return to Libya. On 4 March, he called the West to use airstrikes against Gaddafi after his contacts in Libya told him they need airstrikes. He also argued that a no-fly zone would be insufficient but later calls for the no-fly zone.
He later stated that international community needs "less talk and more action" to stop the violence. He has asked for a no-fly zone over Libya but does not support foreign ground troops. He has also stated that a no-fly zone is the only way to stop Gaddafi who he has said is relying completely on the air force.
In an interview with Adnkronos
Adnkronos
-History:It was established in 1963 by a merger of two agencies, Kronos and Agenzia Di Notizie .The agency is owned by Giuseppe Marra Communications....
, a rival claimant to the throne, Idris bin Abdullah al-Senussi, announced he was ready to return to the country once change had been initiated. On 21 February 2011, Idris made an appearance on Piers Morgan Tonight
Piers Morgan Tonight
Piers Morgan Tonight is a talk show on CNN, hosted by Piers Morgan. The show premiered on January 17, 2011 and filled the former Larry King Live timeslot. The theme music is written by Anthony James, composer and CEO of British company Music Candy, and his writing partner Yiorgos Bellapaisiotis,...
to discuss the uprising.
On 24 February, his brother Hashem called on Gaddafi "to have mercy" on the demonstrators, just as he did with members of the former Royal Family in 1969 when he allowed them to leave the country unharmed after the coup that overthrew the monarchy.
On 3 March, it was reported that Prince Al Senussi Zouber Al Senussi had fled Libya with his family and was seeking asylum in Totebo
Totebo
Totebo is a locality situated in Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 256 inhabitants in 2005....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
On 17 March, Prince Mohamed Hilal El Senussi returned to Libya after 41 years in exile.
Public reaction
During the Battle of SirteBattle of Sirte (2011)
The Battle of Sirte was a battle of the 2011 Libyan civil war that began when the National Liberation Army attacked forces loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi in his hometown and designated capital of Sirte, on the Gulf of Sidra...
, residents of Sirte
Sirte
Sirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast...
expressed condemnation against the rebels and NATO. According to one resident, "The rebels are worse than rats. Nato is the same as Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
." According to another local woman, "We lived in democracy under Muammer Gaddafi, he was not a dictator. I lived in freedom, Libyan women had full human rights. It isn't that we need Muammer Gaddafi again, but we want to live just as we did before." A local elderly woman stated "They are killing our children. Why are they doing this? For what? Life was good before!"