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Libyan Islamic Fighting Group

Since the overthrowing of Gaddafi’s government in 2011, the country faced years of civil war. The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group spearheaded protests against Gaddafi’s government. The group had been in existence since the 1990s and was identified by the United Nations as a terrorist group (Bhardwaj). This group wanted to overthrow Gaddafi and turn Libya into a state under Islamic law. Gaddafi had been in power for 42 years and kept a tight rein on his government, which was ranked among the most corrupt in the world. The United States wanted to see Gaddafi ousted, so on this point their quest was aligned with that of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

Encouraged by the Arab Spring in other North African countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, the rebels marched across the country in protest of Gaddafi. While most of the protesters were Libyan citizens, a significant number of them were from the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and the United States had full knowledge of this fact. From Wiki Leaks documents in 2005, the leader of the rebels Abu Sufian Ibrahim Ahmed Hamuda Bin Qumu was a member of al-Qaeda (Bhardwaj). It is apparent that the U.S. government was aware of the fact the rebellion in Libya was led by terrorist factions yet did nothing since they too wanted to see Gaddafi ousted from office.

Works Cited

Bhardwaj, Maya. “Development of conflict in Arab Spring Libya and Syria: From revolution to civil war.” Washington University International Review 1.1 (2012): 76-97..