How Do Libyans Remember Gaddafi’s Rule 13 Years After his Death?

Muammar Gaddafi (Archive Photo)
Muammar Gaddafi (Archive Photo)
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How Do Libyans Remember Gaddafi’s Rule 13 Years After his Death?

Muammar Gaddafi (Archive Photo)
Muammar Gaddafi (Archive Photo)

Tough living conditions have prompted some Libyans to feel nostalgic about the era of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, seeing it as a time of security. However, others remember the oppression and executions that characterized his 42-year rule.

This divide in views on Gaddafi—who was killed and displayed in a refrigerator in Misrata—remains strong among his supporters and opponents, even 13 years after his death.

Opponents of Gaddafi blame his regime for Libya’s current political crises and difficult living conditions.

Abdel Raouf Betalmal, a leader in the Libya Al-Namah party, said discussions about Gaddafi evoke sadness among many Libyans, who regret not benefiting from the country’s oil wealth during his rule.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Betalmal stated that Gaddafi “left no significant development or major projects, nor did he nurture political talent. Instead, he drained Libya in every way, leaving little for Libyans to remember positively.”

Responding to those who argue that goods were affordable and available during Gaddafi’s time, Betalmal criticized this view, saying they overlook his role in the spread of weapons, as he opened his stockpiles in the final months of his rule to try to suppress the uprising against him.

Libyan political analyst Hussein Al-Suwaidi, a supporter of Gaddafi, believes several reasons lead Libyans to remember and mourn the late leader. He points to a sense of national sovereignty as a key factor.

“Within months of the September 1 Revolution in 1969, British and US forces were expelled from Libya, along with over 30,000 Italians who controlled much of the agricultural land,” Al-Suwaidi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The analyst also criticized the belief that nostalgia for Gaddafi’s era is mainly about low food prices.

“While that's true, there was also an increase in average income during his time,” he stated.

He noted that Gaddafi’s legacy is still relevant today, as many ministers in the rival governments of eastern and western Libya are recognized as former officials in his regime.

Al-Suwaidi argues that this counters claims that Gaddafi ignored leadership development and education.



Compensation Delays Leave Beirut Southern Suburbs’ Families in Ruined Homes

A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
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Compensation Delays Leave Beirut Southern Suburbs’ Families in Ruined Homes

A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)
A man surveys the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs last week. (EPA)

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, amid buildings scarred by war, residents continue to suffer from severe damage to their homes caused by the recent conflict.

In the Mrayjeh and Saint Therese neighborhoods, locals face a harsh reality of ruined houses, stalled compensation, and unfulfilled promises, while reconstruction projects remain frozen amid deep uncertainty.

In Mrayjeh, where the destruction still marks the walls of homes, Ali, a resident, told Asharq Al-Awsat about the near-total damage to his house.

He said: “After my home was almost completely destroyed, we were told there was an urgent reconstruction plan and that compensation would be paid within a few months. But the reality is completely different.”

“All we actually received was four months’ worth of shelter allowance starting in January, totaling no more than $2,000. After that, all aid stopped, and we have not received any financial support to repair the damage,” added Ali.

On the scale of his losses, Ali said: “My home is no longer habitable. It was completely damaged—from the walls to the floors, from water and electricity networks to furniture that was entirely ruined. I barely managed to salvage anything.”

“Yet, I have received no compensation for the losses. Since the damage occurred, I have been covering all costs out of my own pocket. So far, I’ve spent more than $10,000, and I’m still at the beginning of the road. In my estimation, I need at least another $30,000 to restore the house to a livable condition.”

But the biggest shock came in recent weeks, when they were officially informed that restoration work in the building was halted “until further notice.”

Ali explained that the entity responsible for the repairs, appointed by Hezbollah, told them bluntly: “Funding has stopped, so no work can continue. All they managed to do was reinforce a support wall on the ground floor, then they stopped and left as if nothing happened.”

The building is now at risk of total collapse, with many families either displaced or living in inhumane conditions.

Regarding their appeals to the authorities, Ali said: “All our inquiries receive the same response: ‘There is no funding currently, please wait.’”