On Friday, Libyans commemorated the 12-year anniversary of their 2011 uprising. Major festivities took place in many locations, while the capital, Tripoli, saw its citizens take to the streets and decorate the city’s squares with lights and national flags.
Large throngs of people attended music performances by Libyan artists and bands in Tripoli’s central square.
Also, as part of the festivities, a sizable military parade was held in the square.
“I congratulate the Libyan people on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the February 17 revolution, and God willing, we’ll grow from better to better. If God allows it next year we will have a government elected by the entire Libyan people, and Libya will unite and become one state.” Rabie Imran, one of the men celebrating on the streets of Tripoli said.
Since elections could not be held until December 2021, the anniversary of the rebellion coincides with the ongoing political impasse and division of the administration.
In the anarchy that followed the rebellion, the county split into two opposing administrations, each supported by various renegade militias and foreign countries.
Towards the end of the previous year, the UN’s special representative for Libya issued a warning that the country is already showing indications of division and encouraged powerful nations to exert pressure on opposing Libyan authorities to swiftly complete the constitutional framework for elections.
Libya entered a phase of unrest beginning on February 17, 2011, that was reminiscent of the Arab spring that had just begun in several other Arab countries. People began the revolt that ended Colonel Moammar Gadhafi’s 42-year tyranny, although NATO’s role in the overthrow of Gadhafi is frequently recalled.
On March 19, 2011, a coalition led by France, Britain, and the United States started the first attacks on Gadhafi’s forces in accordance with a UN resolution to defend civilians. On March 31, NATO took command of the aerial campaign against Libya.
