How Gaddafi Gained Power of Libya

Gaddafi was born on June 7, 1942 at Qasr Abu Hadi. He graduated from the University of Libya in 1963. Then he graduated the Libyan military academy at Banghazi in 1965. He was an Arab nationalist, and wanted to overthrow King Idris. Gaddafi and a group of officers planned out how to overthrow King Idris. By 1969 the planning was complete and the revolutionaries were ready to revolt. They waited until King Idris left Libya to get some medical treatment. After he left, they started the coup. They got rid of the monarchy and Gaddafi became Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council of Libya(A&E). This is how Muammar Gaddafi gained power of Libya.

Cities Controlled by Gaddafi

This map shows areas of Libya that were controlled by Gaddafi during their civil war.

Gaddafi Benifits Libya

After gaining power, Gaddafi immediately started to make changes. First, he ordered to shutdown American and British bases. He also said that he would get rid of their oil companies if they didn’t give more revenue resulting in a better economy for Libya (Smith). In 1977, Libya’s government turned into a direct democracy. The literacy rate rose from only 10% to 90%, and the life expectancy rose 20 years. He also set up equal rights for colored people and woman. He also gave financial support and free healthcare. He did all of this without borrowing any money from foreign countries, which means that Libya was debt free (Azad). Gaddafi was a great guy in the beginning but he became insane with power and money.

Gaddafi Takes Advantage of his Power

Although Gaddafi did all these things to benefit the Libyan people, he was accused for the following. One thing he did is that he took advantage of his power. He spent a lot of the Libya’s money on his family and other superior people (Risen and Lichtblau). A lot of Libya’s major companies were run by Gaddafi and his family (Rheannon). Also, his family would have private parties with celebrities. He also spent a lot of money on weapons and on supporting foreign revolutions (Econimist). Gaddafi abused money and power leading to his fall in the future.

Pan Am Flight 103 and the Abu Salim Prison Massacre

Even though Gaddafi murdered a lot of people, there are two crimes that got my attention. One of the major crimes was the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. It was flying from London’s Airport to the New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. A total of 270 people were killed, 243 passangers, 16 crew members, and 11 people on the ground at Lockerbie, Scotland (PanAmAir). The Libyan government didn’t accept guilt for the bombing of the plane until August 15, 2003 (Barringer). The second thing major killing that happened was Abu Salim Prison Massacre. Abu Salim is the top security prison in Tripoli, the capital of Libya. They gathered 1270 of the prisoners and murdered all of them by shooting them and using grenades (HRW). These are two major reasons why the Libyans rebelled against Muammar Gaddafi.

Pictures of Pan Am flight 103

This is a picture of the front of Pan Am Flight 103  after it crashed.

This is a picture of the plane from above. You can still see part of the planes name Clipper Maid of the Seas.

People are viewing pictures of the victims.

This shows how strong the plane crashed.

Abu Salim Prison Massacre

The building in the background is the Abu Salim Prison.

These are bones from the prisoners killed at the prison.