Muammar Qaddafi (also spelled Gaddafi, 1942–2011) was a Libyan revolutionary, military leader, and politician who ruled Libya as its de facto leader from 1969 until his overthrow and death in 2011. He came to power after a coup d’état against King Idris I, establishing the Libyan Arab Republic and later renaming the country the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, a state based on his own political ideology.
Qaddafi’s rule was marked by his creation of a unique political system, which he called “direct democracy,” through popular congresses and committees. However, in practice, his governance was often seen as autocratic, with a concentration of power in his hands and his family’s influence dominating Libyan politics and wealth.
He was a highly controversial figure internationally. Initially, Qaddafi pursued pan-Arab and anti-imperialist policies, aligning himself with the Soviet Union and other revolutionary states. He supported various liberation movements around the world, including groups that were labeled terrorist organizations by Western nations. Under his rule, Libya was involved in international incidents like the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, which led to international sanctions.
However, Qaddafi’s policies shifted in the 2000s, when he sought reconciliation with Western powers, giving up Libya’s weapons of mass destruction programs and fostering improved economic relations. Despite this, internal dissent and external pressures grew over the years.
In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Qaddafi faced an uprising against his regime. His attempts to suppress the rebellion led to a civil war and NATO intervention. In October 2011, Qaddafi was captured and killed by rebel forces. His death marked the end of his 42-year rule, but Libya has remained unstable, with ongoing conflicts among various factions.
His legacy is polarizing: some view him as a leader who developed Libya and fought for African unity, while others see him as a dictator responsible for severe human rights abuses.