The Libyan Revolution

The waves of civil disobedience and uprisings that would sweep the Arab world began in Tunisia with reaching repercussions that would culminate in the death of the erstwhile Leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi. A plethora of issues have arisen with various commentators expressing a myriad of opinions on concepts such as human rights, rule of law and national sovereignty. Muammar Gaddafi had been in power for 42 years and while some regard him as being belligerent and an autocrat, others view him as a leader and champion of Africa. Only a few years ago he was sitting to discuss with the President of the United States Barack Obama and a week ago was murdered in cold blood without so much as a trial. The series of events that would later be tagged as the Arab spring is certainly one of great implications.

This is further emphasised in the timeline of events that trail the civil war in Libya. Following the wave of riots and unrest, the United Nations passed a resolution allowing a NATO led military intervention in Libya which has resulted in the arming of civilians and ultimately the deposition and death of Muammar Gaddafi. The African Union has often been criticised as being ineffectual and lacking in dealing with issues as they affect the continent. It recently came under fire from the pan African parliament where the interference of the west in settling the civil unrest in Libya was viewed as an indication of the ineptitude of the African union. Analysts contend that the overlooking of the African Union original road map for resolving the Libyan civil war by the west shows a disregard for the sovereignty and institution of the African Union. General rumblings suggest economic and political motivations as being the real reason behind the western intervention of Libya. The New York Times article by Scott Shane October 28 2011 sports a title that reads 'West Sees Libya as Ripe at Last for Businesses'. It reports that barely a week after Gaddaffi's death, a delegation from 80 French companies arrived in Tripoli to meet officials of the Transitional National Council, the interim government. The British defence minister, Philip Hammond, was quoted as urging British companies to “pack their suitcases” and head to Tripoli. 

The true effects are left to be seen in the aftermath of the civil war as ideologies and concepts on political integrity sovereignty and global co-operation remain vague at most.