The international community has failed Libya by not providing the help the war-torn country needed in building basic institutions which were rendered non-existent by Muammar Gaddafi, according to a former political prisoner of the overthrown dictator.
Ahmed Al-Zubair al-Senussi was speaking this morning at the first Sakharov Lecture organised by the European Parliament representation in Malta.
Mr al-Senussi, a Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought laureate, is a Libyan member of the National Transitional Council who spent 31 years incarcerated after planning to overthrow Gaddafi one year after Gaddafi had seized power in a military coup in 1969.
Mr al-Senussi explained that Gaddafi did not leave any institutions in place, and chaos has now become the name of the game.
“In the beginning we were united against him and his people. Now Libya is overcome by assassins and snipers while ransacking has become the norm.”
Libya is divided between two governments since a group called Libya Dawn seized Tripoli in August after a month-long battle with a rival group, setting up its own parliament and government.
Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni has been forced to work from Tobruk in the East where the elected House of Representatives is also based.
Mr al-Senussi thanked the UN for its support but added that the help offered was not built on the right pillars. The UN was speaking to MPs who refused the legitimate Parliament.
He called for the setting up of a national army in Libya which had nothing to do with politics.
“We do not want to repeat Gaddafi’s mistakes. Oppression is not the way forward. The army should protect us and not oppress us.”
The way forward, he insisted, was setting up a federal government, with Libya being divided into three states: Tripoli, the eastern region of Barka and southern Fezzan.
“We want the 1951 constitution to be reinstated. Our unity and freedom was built on this constitution which was suspended by Gaddafi.
“Each state would have independent governance under the central, federal regime. If we follow this recipe, it will save Libya.”