Libya Marks 7th Anniversary Of Revolution That Brought Mixed Results

Photo credit AFP: Female jubilants in Libya

While many people say the revolution has led to much change, ongoing political division is still taking its toll on the lives of many Libyans.

Protests in Benghazi eventually led to the toppling of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

It's the seventh anniversary of the start of the revolution in Libya.

Photo credit AFP: Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj

While there were scenes of jubilation taking place across many parts of Libya, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in a televised speech on Saturday, acknowledged his government’s shortcomings and said national reconciliation was a solution to end divisions in Libya and ease the crisis facing the North African country.

“Maybe a regime has ended, but the truth is we have not managed to rid ourselves of a culture that has dominated the minds and behavior of many people, who today are at the forefront of politics and who consider the homeland as booty,” Sarraj said.

He accused other countries, without naming any, of “fueling” the conflict in Libya and called on them to stop intervening in his homeland.

On February 17, 2011, people across Libya took to the streets, calling for freedom and democracy. The uprising was marred by violence after a NATO intervention in March that year and bloody clashes between pro- and anti-Gaddafi forces later.

The former ruler was ousted from power after a 42-year-long dictatorship in August 2011 and killed two months later.

Libya has been struggling with instability since then, with two rival governments ruling in different parts of the country — the Government of National Accord (GNA) and a rival administration backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. The country’s executive and legislative branches have also been paralyzed by fierce rivalries between political movements, ideologies, and tribes.

The rise of extremism and the presence of terrorist groups in the oil-rich country have also resulted in the deterioration of living conditions.