If some of the military commanders of the free Libyan army are right, by the time you read this the battle for Bani Walid may be over. Then again, the town might live up to its historical reputation and – as happened during the 1920s’ Italian conquest of Tripolitania – be the last town to fall. Either way, some explanations are needed for why the town is one of the last holdouts.
The international media are either blind to, or conveniently forgetting, their role in destroying any chance of a negotiated settlement- Ranier Fsadni
General Graziani called Bani Walid the “Dardanelles”, a name which the Warfalla, the only tribe settled there, have proudly used for the local newspaper that first began to be published in the 1990s. But it would be misleading to rely too much on history.
It is true that the Warfalla pride themselves on their anti-colonial resistance and that this self-image played an important part in the hostile reaction to the onset of Nato bombing. It is also true that the Warfalla have a long historic relationship with Muammar Gaddafi’s tribe, the Gaddadfa (the Warfalla having been, historically, the senior ally, permitting the smaller tribe to use a variation of its animal brand, which served as an insurance policy against possible raiders).
But it is also true that, ever since a military coup was attempted in October 1993, with two of the main leaders coming from a prominent Bani Walid family, the town was systematically punished. I have been told by people from there that, before the Nato bombings began, the large majority of the Warfalla resented Col Gaddafi’s rule. Indeed, several of the most prominent people associated with the National Transitional Council are Warfalla, some of them originating from Bani Walid. Mahmoud Jibril, the NTC “Prime Minister”, is one; one of the leading propagandists on the NTC’s broadcasting, before the fall of Col Gaddafi, is another.
At this stage, with only preliminary information obtained under the fog of battle and electricity cuts, I would highlight two factors that explain why Bani Walid is currently at the centre of a difficult battle.
First, there is the matter of what kind of “tribe” the Warfalla are, or, as Plato might have put it, the problem of the one and the many. I have so far referred to the Warfalla as one tribe.
Only this is slightly misleading, since tribes are like Chinese boxes: each one has other tribes within it.
The Warfalla are made up of 52 tribes (or 53, depending on who’s counting) historically divided into five sections.
With three exceptions, pro- and anti-Gaddafi sentiment has not been divided neatly into tribal lines. Even families have been split. Whether the gossip is true or not, it is telling that the NTC’s propagandist’s family, in Bani Walid, is said to be pro-Gaddafi.
What has happened, I believe, is that sheer size – normally a sign of a formidable adversary – here played an important part in paralysing a united, decisive Warfalla stand. Having members found across the spectrum of a very diverse Libyan society meant that it was difficult to find a common community interest, without risking fitna – the dreaded, scandalous internal split. It may not be a coincidence that the tribes which, according to what I’ve heard, did manage to take an unambiguous stand against Col Gaddafi (although without armed resistance), are all small.
I mentioned three exceptions. Three tribes had many members involved in the crushing of a May uprising in Bani Walid. The film footage of the brutality made its way to the internet. These are the people that the NTC military commander, Ahmed Bani, is probably referring to when speaking of people who must be brought to justice. These three tribes apparently have no way out. Their members have to fight.
Second, there is the role of the media. The international media have alluded, in their reports, to the local radio broadcasts that are serving to intimidate ordinary families and to instil fear of the rebels. And these broadcasters apparently include, I’m told, two of the main broadcasters in Tripoli before the NTC victory.
However, the international media are either blind to, or conveniently forgetting, their role in destroying any chance of a negotiated settlement. When the final attempt was taking place, the media filmed, live, the negotiations as well as interviewed one of Bani Walid’s representatives. He referred to Bani Walid being divided between a large majority against Col Gaddafi and then those “with blood on their hands...”. He was naïve, of course, but the media were irresponsible. Even as he was uttering those words, the men whose peaceful exit strategy he was trying to negotiate were watching him.
Of course he was shot at when the delegation attempted to return to Bani Walid. There were always going to be Gaddafi supporters in town who would have attempted to sabotage any agreement. But in this case, they found an unwitting ally in the international media.
ranierfsadni@europe.com