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National Transitional Council

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For the Congolese entity of the same name, see National Transitional Council (Congo).

National Transitional Council
المجلس الوطني الانتقالي
al-majlis al-waṭanī al-intiqālī
AbbreviationNTC
PredecessorLibyan Arab Jamahiriya
Formation27 February 2011 (164 months ago)
TypeProvisional authority
HeadquartersTripoli
Location
Official language
Arabic
Chairman
Mustafa Abdul Jalil
Vice Chairman
Abdul Hafiz Ghoga
Prime Minister
Abdurrahim El-Keib
Websitentclibya.com
Politics of Libya

Arab League Member State of the Arab League

Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
flag Libya portal

The National Transitional Council of Libya (Template:Lang-ar al-majlis al-waṭanī al-intiqālī ), sometimes known as the Transitional National Council,[1] the Interim National Council,[2] or the Libyan National Council, is the current de facto government of Libya, established by anti-Gaddafi forces during the 2011 Libyan civil war, which has pitted these forces against the government of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The NTC has issued a Constitutional Declaration in August 2011 in which it sets up a road-map for the transition of the country to a constitutional democracy with an elected government.

The formation of the NTC was announced in the city of Benghazi on 27 February 2011 and its intended purpose is to act as the "political face of the revolution". On 5 March 2011, the council issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the "only legitimate body representing the people of Libya and the Libyan state".[3][4][5]

An executive board, chaired by Mahmoud Jibril, was formed by the council on 23 March 2011 after being de facto assembled as an "executive team" since 5 March 2011. The council has international recognition as the legitimate governing authority in Libya until an interim authority is in place[6] and occupies the country's seat at the United Nations.[7] Several other countries have established unofficial ties with the National Transitional Council, with a number of those countries establishing a permanent diplomatic presence in Benghazi to liaise with council officials.

The council uses the name Libya for the Libyan state and has used the long-form name Libyan Republic, while the Gaddafi government's name for the Libyan state was the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Background

2011 uprising and civil war

Main article: 2011 Libyan civil war

After popular movements overturned the rulers of Tunisia and Egypt, Libya's immediate neighbours to the west and east, Libya experienced a full-scale uprising beginning in February 2011.[8][9] By 20 February, the unrest had spread to Tripoli. As of late February 2011, much of Libya had slipped out of Gaddafi's control, falling to anti-Gaddafi forces. Eastern Libya, centred around the second largest city and vital port of Benghazi, was firmly under the control of the opposition. The opposition began to organise themselves into a functioning government.[10] Anti-Gaddafi forces Forces marched on Sirte (Gaddafi's hometown) on 28 September 2011. Gaddafi loyalists delayed the attack with the use of their snipers. The fight for Sirte ended on 20 October with the capture of the town and the death of Colonel Gaddafi.[11]

Early efforts to form a government

Opposition meeting in Bayda, 24 February 2011

On 24 February 2011, politicians, former military officers, tribal leaders, academics and businessmen held a meeting in the eastern city of Bayda.[12] The meeting was chaired by former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil, who quit the government a few days before. The delegates discussed proposals for interim administration with many delegates asking for UN intervention in Libya.[13] The podium at the meeting displayed the pre-Jamahiriya flag.[14][15][16]

On 25 February 2011, Al-Jazeera TV reported that talks are taking place between "personalities from eastern and western Libya" to form an interim government for the post-Gaddafi era.[14] On 26 February, it was reported that former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil was leading the process of forming an interim body, to be based in Benghazi.[17][18] Mr Jalil stated that "Gaddafi alone bore responsibility for the crimes that have occurred" in Libya; he also insisted on the unity of Libya and that Tripoli is the capital.[19] The efforts to form an alternative government have been supported by the Libyan ambassador in the United States, Ali Suleiman Aujali.[20][21] The Libyan deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Omar Al Dabashi, has stated that he supported a new alternative government "in principle".[22]

Establishment of a national council

A National Transitional Council was formed on 27 February to act as "the political face of the revolution".[23] Its spokesman, Hafiz Ghoga, made clear at the launch press conference that the national council was not a provisional government and added that the newly formed council was not in contact with foreign governments and did not want them to intervene.[24] He later clarified that an airstrike mandated by the United Nations would not be considered a foreign intervention.[25]

An Al Jazeera English journalist in Benghazi has reported that a fully fledged interim government will not be formed until Tripoli is under opposition control.[26] This is in contrast to claims made by former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil on the previous day about the formation of a provisional government. These comments have now been clarified by the council as his "personal views".

On 5 March, the council issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the "sole representative of all Libya". It was also stated that Mustafa Abdul Jalil was chairman of the council.[3][4][5]

On 10 March, France became the first country to recognise the National Interim Council as Libya's only legitimate government.

Formation of an executive board

On 23 March, the council established an Executive Board to act as a transitional government for Libya. Mahmoud Jibril, who served as chairman of the informal "executive team" since 5 March, was appointed as Chairman of that board stating that council now serves as the "legislative body", and the new Executive Board will serve as the "executive body".[27][28] Jibril led the meeting and negotiations with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a meeting that resulted in France officially recognizing the council as the sole representative of the Libyan people.

Aims and objectives

Further information: Libyan interim Constitutional Declaration

The "Declaration of the founding of the Transitional National Council" states the main aims of the council are as follows:[29]

  • Ensure the safety of the national territory and citizens
  • Coordination of national efforts to liberate the rest of Libya
  • Support the efforts of local councils to work for the restoration of normal civilian life
  • Supervision of the Military Council to ensure the achievement of the new doctrine of the Libyan People's Army in the defense of the people and to protect the borders of Libya.
  • Facilitate the election of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution for the country; be put to a popular referendum
  • Form a transitional government to pave the holding of free elections
  • Guide the conduct of foreign policy, and the regulation of relations with other countries and international and regional organizations, and the representation of the Libyan people

In another statement clarifying the goals for a post-Gaddafi Libya, the council has committed itself an eight-point plan to hold free and fair elections, draft a national constitution, form political and civil institutions, uphold intellectual and political pluralism, and guarantee citizens' inalienable human rights and the ability of free expression of their aspirations. The council also emphasized its rejection of racism, intolerance, discrimination, and terrorism.[30][31] Article 1 further declares Tripoli the state capital and Arabic the official language while reserving the linguistic and cultural rights of ethnic minorities as well as the freedom of religion for religious minorities.

The stated aim of the NTC is to form a de jure interim government based in Tripoli and hold elections for a Public National Conference to replace it. The PNC will then elect a prime minister, appoint a Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution subject to its approval by the PNC and by referendum, and then oversee free elections for a representative government.[32]

Structure and membership

Legislative body

National Transitional Council
المجلس الوطني الانتقالي
al-majlis al-waṭanī al-intiqālī
Type
Type
Leadership
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Seats51 members
Meeting place
Tripoli, Libya
Website
ntclibya.com

The National Transitional Council is a body that claims to be, and is widely recognized as, the "only legitimate body representing the people of Libya and the Libyan state".[34] Starting off at 33 members, it has now risen to 51[35], with proposals to increase its size further to 75 or even 125.[36]

Al Jazeera English reported that each city or town under opposition control will be given five seats on the new council and that contact will be established with new cities that come under opposition control to allow them to join the council. The identities of members of the council were not disclosed at the launch conference. Human Rights lawyer Hafiz Ghoga was the spokesperson for the new council. An Al Jazeera English journalist in Benghazi stated that Mustafa Abdul Jalil still had a leadership role within the new council.[24] The Council declared that Jalil was the head of the council.[5] The council met formally for the first time on 5 March 2011[5] when it was announced that the council has 33 members.[37] The names of some of the members were kept secret to prevent threats to their families that were still in government held areas of Libya.[38]

As of September 2011, some of the NTC's members are in Benghazi, while some have moved to the de jure capital Tripoli. On 8 September, the head of government Mahmoud Jibril became the highest-ranking NTC official yet to move to Tripoli. Prior to Jibril's relocation, Deputy Chairman Ali Tarhouni was the de facto leader of the NTC in Tripoli.[39]

Members

The council has 51 members[35], of which 40 names have been released; the identities of several members has not been made public to protect their own safety. Only 3 of the council members are women, and of them Salwa Fawzi El-Deghali is the only one whose identity has been publically released.

The members of the council include:[40][41]

Template:Multicol

| class="col-break " |

| class="col-break " |

|}

Executive Board

On 5 March 2011, a crisis committee was set up to act as the executive arm of the council. An Executive Board was announced on 23 March 2011.[44][45][46] It originally had 15 members, but a minor reorganisation apparently removed the post of Military Affairs from the council proper and created a successor position for Defence on the board, expanding the bureau to 16 members.[47][48]

The Executive Board was dismissed on 8 August 2011 due to administrative mistakes in investigating the assassination in July of army commander General Abdel-Fatah Younes.[49] Chairman Mahmoud Jibril, the only designated member of the Executive Board who was not fired, was tasked with forming a new Board.[50]

Members (March–August 2011)

Prior to the re-shuffle in August 2011, the board members were:[51] Template:Multicol

  • Mahmoud Jibril – Chairman and Head of International Affairs
  • Ali Al-Issawi – Vice-Chairman
  • Ahmed Hussein Al-Darrat – Internal Affairs and Local Government
  • Jalal al-Digheily – Defence (formerly Military Affairs)
  • Mahmoud Shammam – Media
  • Naji Barakat – Health
  • Mohammed Al-Allagi – Justice and Human Rights
  • Hania Al-Gumati – Social Welfare

| class="col-break " |

  • Abdullah Shamia – Economic
  • Ali Tarhouni – Finance and Oil
  • Anwar Elfeitori – Transportation and Communications
  • Abulgassim Nimr – Environment
  • Atia Lawgali – Culture and Community
  • Abdulsalam Al-Shikhy – Religious Affairs and Endowments
  • Ahmed Al-Jehani – Reconstruction and Infrastructure
  • Suliman El-Sahli – Education

|}

Members (October 2011)

A new cabinet was unveiled in early October 2011, though not all of its members were announced at once. Individuals confirmed to be part of the new board include[52] Mahmoud Jibril as prime minister, Ali Tarhouni as deputy prime minister, and Jalal al-Digheily as defence minister. On 23 October, Jibril resigned as Mustafa Abdul Jalil declared an end to the civil war[53], and Abdurrahim El-Keib succeeded him as prime minister on 31 October[35].

Members (November 2011)

Keib unveiled his new government on 22 November 2011, after apparently acting in the role of prime minister with much of Jibril's interim cabinet retained for nearly a month. A partial list of names follows:[54][55]

Local government

During the war, in opposition-held Benghazi, a 15-member "local committee"[56] made up of lawyers, judges and respected local people was formed in order to provide civic administration and public services within the city.[57] Residents have organised to direct traffic and collect refuse. Many shops and businesses have opened again.[57] A newspaper[58] and two local radio stations were also established.[59]

Similar "local committees" were formed in other cities controlled by opposition groups.[60]

Commercial bodies

The council has established the following commercial bodies to manage its financial affairs:

  • The Central Bank of Benghazi – to act as the "monetary authority competent in monetary policies in Libya"[61]
  • Libyan Oil Company – to act as the "supervisory authority on oil production and policies in the country"[62]

Armed forces

Main article: National Liberation Army (Libya)

The Anti-Gaddafi forces are Libyan armed forces which were constituted during the 2011 Libyan civil war by defected military members and armed citizens in order to engage in battle against both remaining members of the Libyan Armed Forces and paramilitary loyal to the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. The National Liberation Army, formerly known as the Free Libyan Army, is the NTC's military arm, with the small Free Libyan Air Force operating assets including captured and defected fighter jets and helicopters.

Omar El-Hariri was the first military affairs minister the NTC named, holding that position from 23 March 2011 forward. By 19 May 2011, however, Jalal al-Digheily had replaced El-Hariri.[63] Then on 8 August 2011, Jalala along with 14 other members of the Executive Board were fired and the position left vacant, but was reappointed in early October 2011 after continuing in the role of interim defense minister for almost two months.[64]

On 1 April 2011, Abdul Fatah Younis was announced as commander of the armed forces, in an attempt to insert an organized fighting structure due to a string of failures. Younis was killed in an attack on 29 July 2011 which has been variously blamed on pro-Gaddafi agents,[65] rogue rebel militiamen,[66] and the NTC itself.[67] Suleiman Mahmoud, Younis's top lieutenant, replaced him as army commander.[66]

Foreign relations

  Libya
  Countries that recognised the NTC as the sole legitimate representative of Libya during the civil war
  Countries that did not recognise the NTC prior to voting for it to take Libya's UN seat
  Countries that said they would not recognise the NTC
  Other countries which opposed recognition of the NTC at the UN
Main articles: Foreign relations of Libya and International recognition of the National Transitional Council

In July 2011, the Libya Contact Group of representatives of many nations announced its participants' agreement to deal with the National Transitional Council as the "legitimate governing authority in Libya".[68][69] The council has also received the backing of the Arab League[70] and the European Union.[71] On 16 September 2011, the United Nations General Assembly voted to award Libya's UN seat to the NTC.[7] On 20 September 2011, the African Union officially recognised the NTC as the legitimate representative of Libya.[72]

Mohammed El Senussi, the pretender to the throne of Libya, has also voiced his support for the NTC.[73]

Military intervention

Main article: 2011 military intervention in Libya

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised a multi-national effort to establish a no-fly zone. On 19 March, British, French and US air forces began attacking targets in Gaddafi-controlled Libya, thereby initiating the UN military intervention. Operations were led by NATO under Operation Unified Protector, after initially being led by a joint UK, US and French command. Non-NATO states such as Jordan, Qatar, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates also contributed to the military mission.

See also

References

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  2. ^ March 31st Updates | Libya February 17th
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