Muammar Gaddafi

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi معمر القذافي
Portrait of Colonel Gaddafi
Born	(1942-06-07)June 7, 1942 Sirte, Italian Libya
Died	October 20, 2011(2011-10-20) (aged 69) Sirte, Libya
Cause of death	Assasination
Nationality	Libyan
Political orientation	Third International Theory Arab socialism African socialism Pan-Africanism
Political party	Arab Socialist Union (1969–1977) Independent (1977–2011)

Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi (7 June 1942 – 20 October 2011), commonly known as Colonel Gaddafi, was a Libyan revolutionary, politician and political theorist. He governed Libya initially as Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) from 1969 to 1977, before serving as Secretary General of the General People's Congress until 1979. After resigning his post to be succeeded by Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, Gaddafi would spend the rest of his career outside of the decision making framework of the Libyan Jamahiriya as Brotherly Leader of the Great September Revolution, an honorific title which only served ideological and ceremonial purposes.

Initially ideologically committed to Nasserism, Gaddafi's commitment would later evolve according to his own Third International Theory.

Pan-Africanism

On the 16th of March, 2016 WikiLeaks published an archive of Hillary Clinton's emails containing information confirming the conspiracy by the US and French Governments to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi based on his desire to develop a "pan-African" currency. In an email to Clinton titled, "France's client & Qaddafi's gold" Sidney Blumenthal describes Gaddafi's intentions to develop a "pan-African" dollar based on the Libyan Dinar and the concerns raised by France's government in relation.

The gold was accumulated prior to the current rebellion and was intended to be used to establish a pan-African currency based on the Libyan golden Dinar. This plan was designed to provide, the Francophone Aftrican Countries with an alternative to the French franc (CFA).

— Sidney Blumenthal , https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/12659 , 2011-04-01

The email continues stating that "According to knowledgeable individuals…" the desire to develop the currency…

…was one of the factors that influenced President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to commit France to the attack on Libya. According to these individuals Sarkozy's plans are driven by the following issues:

a. A desire to gain a greater share of Libya oil production,

b. Increase French influence in North Africa,

c. Improve his internal political situation in France,

d. Provide the French military with an opportunity to reassert its position in the world,

e. Address the concern of his advisors over Qaddafi's long term plan to supplant France as the dominant power in Francophone Africa.

— Sidney Blumenthal , https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/12659 , 2011-04-01

Anti-Imperialist Funding

Muammar Gaddafi's Libya provided funding and support to the Red Brigades in Italy during Italy's Years of Lead, the Red Brigades were the most prominent Marxist-Leninist organization, aiming to overthrow the Italian state. Alongside the IRA with an estimated $45 million in cash and over 100 tons of weaponry, including Semtex explosives.

Gaddafi contributed roughly $40 million to various Palestinian resistance organization. He also gave $100 million to the Black September organization which was an Palestinian resistance group, in 1976.

Death

Following NATO invasion of Libya, Gaddafi was killed by a US drone strike, despite the rebels' call for covert support for their mission, rather than overt support.

Bibliography

• Library works by Muammar Gaddafi