Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, April 25th, 2024

Libya After Gaddafi

Former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has been buried in a secret desert location in Libya along with his son Muatasim and defense minister. Relatives and family members had requested the bodies to be buried outside Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte. There was a Fatwa that he should not be buried in a Muslim cemetery. Indeed it's now a complete end of the brutal regime, but seeing the way fighters of NTC desecrated the dead bodies, and mass murders were carried out, there is an uncertain future of Libya lying ahead. Now that NATO has ended the mission of supporting civilian population after Gaddafi's death, they should withdraw all troops from Libya.

Gaddafi was a dictator and had killed thousands of innocent people, but it does not justify his brutal murder and desecration at the hands of blood-thirsty fighters who should have instead arrested him alive and put on trial. Reports say many supporters of Gaddafi have been mass murdered by the fighters of NTC in Sirte. A mass grave was found. There must be a thorough investigation by a UN Delegation.

There are many challenges in Libya. Still the future is uncertain as rebel leaders are not united and without a vision for their programs ahead. The population has been armed to a dangerous level that reminds us of the era following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan when all the population was armed and a civil war broke out soon after the communist regime fell in Kabul.

The foremost responsibility of NTC in Libya is ensuring that the national security forces of Libya are not destroyed as happened to us after the Soviet withdrawal. It is the backbone of maintaining order in that country. Secondly, they must disarm the population now that the war has ended and Gaddafi is dead. Libyans must have a lot to learn from the three decades of war in Afghanistan. We hope the departure of Gaddafi will not be the beginning of new era of crisis and chaos in Libya.

It's also important that Libyans from all tribes, including Gaddafi should forget the gone era and make a new start for their country. Libya has a bright future if things go smooth. After maintaining security and order, the most important for the NTC ruling body is to conduct a free and fair election to mark the starting point of a democratic journey. Libyans have to make sure that they have to build their country by themselves, not the international community.