Today Libya Celebrates Independence From Italy

The King Idriss Snoussi

Today, December 24, is the 60^th Anniversary of the Libya’s independence from Italian colonization. On December 24, 1951, the constitution was ratified, and Edriss Snoussi was appointed King of the United Kingdom of Libya.

Libya was subjected to 40 years of Italian colonial rule, which began in October, 1911 during the reign of Benito Mussolini. The colonial period was met with fierce local resistance, lead by Sheikh Omar Mokhtar. This legendary resistance figure is renowned for his famous expression: “We will not surrender. We win or we die.”

Omar Mokhtar

On April 1963, Libya amended its constitution and united their kingdom, making Albadha the country’s capital.

On December 1^st, 1969, Muammar Qaddafi, then a lieutenant in the Libyan Army, lead a coup, with the assistance of his contemporaries in the officers’ corps, to overthrow the monarchy. Qaddafi ruled the country for the subsequent 41 years, which were characterized by tyranny and oppression. Qaddafi faced numerous assassination attempts during his time in power.

On February 17^th, 2011, democratic protests, inspired by the popular uprisings in Tunisia that ousted the former dictator - Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, were met with a violent crackdown from the Qaddafi regime. The government’s brutal response only served to fan the flames of rvolution, and cities throughout Libya openly revolted against Qaddafi.

After eight months of intense fighting between Qaddafi-loyalists and rebel forces (consisting of civilian militias and personnel from the military and government who defected) Tripoli fell, and Colonel Qaddafi was captured and killed. Libya’s future remains uncertain, as the actitvity of armed militias continues to breed instability in the cities and the countryside. However, today Libyans can take pride in their long history of resistance to oppression, and celebrate their independence for the first time free from the shackles of tyranny.      

Qaddafi never allowed Libya’s independence day to be celebrated in the country, the only permitted national day celebration during his rule was the anniversary of his capture of power.  This year’s independence day celebrations are also the first occasion in over 40 years that independence from Italian colonization will be celebrated in Libya.