2. Location of Libya
Located in Northeast
corner of Africa.
Neighbors Egypt,
Tunisia, Algeria, Niger,
Chad and Sudan.
Mediterranean Sea to
the north.
3. Background Information
• Ruled by DICTATOR Muammar al Gaddafi
• Libya is about the size of Alaska
• 6.5 million residents,
- 97 percent of the population is Muslim
• Classified as upper middle income level by the World Bank
• It contains the ninth largest Oil Reserve in the world
• Libya has a poor human rights record ( dont treat people fairly)
• In 2010, the Freedom House gave Libya the lowest possible score on a
scale of measuring freedom.
4. Libya History
1951: Libya won independence after three decades of Italian rule.
1986: U.S. jets bombed a Gaddafi compound in Tripoli.
2009: Gaddafi marks 40 years of rule.
Feb. 15, 2011: Anti-government protests erupt in Libya. The uprising turns
bloody, with pro-Gaddafi forces firing on protesters.
5. Why the Protests and Violence?
• Recent revolutions in neighboring countries Tunisia and
Egypt, demanding democratic changes, inspired violent protests
in Libya against the repressive military government.
• The Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ordered his security forces
to sabotage oil facilities in the country, taken over by the
protestors.
• Gaddafi all but launched a war against his country's civilian
population to maintain control of the oil-rich, North African
nation.
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7. The World Reaction
• 2/25 British nationals were evacuated from Libya
• 2/26 Libyan ambassador denounces dictator Gaddafi
• 2/27 UN Security Council unanimously votes for sanctions against
Libya and refer Gaddafi to International Criminal Court for crimes
against humanity.
• 2/28 South Asian countries evacuated their nationals
• World gold prices hit new high
• Refugees flee to Tunisia, more aid is needed
• 3/2 Canada sends warship to Libya to evacuate refugees.
• 3/3 Oil prices rise to almost $118/barrel.
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8. United States Reactions to Turmoil in Libya
• President Obama issued an executive order that imposes
immediate sanctions on Libyan ruler Muammar al Gaddafi, his
sons and his supporters.
• All U.S. based assets of Gaddafi and his four sons are frozen and
transactions prohibited.
• Members of the U.S. embassy staff in Libya are evacuated and the
Embassy operations have been suspended.