Keeping up with the current news on Libya, it seems that the NTC (The National Transitional Council) has begun to assert itself as the new government. This is great; it finally seems there might be an end in sight to this bloody civil war. They can establish their own government with the support of foreign nations (The NTC was officially recognized as the Libyan government by the U.S. in July) and finally oust Gaddafi. But that’s the thing. Gaddafi is still out there, he’s not captured, he’s not stopped, and he’s still ‘In control’.
Don't get me wrong, there's no way that he has any sort of control over the country right now, but he’s still out there. There are still battles going on over Sirte (his hometown) and around Bani Walid, so I find it hard to believe that they can completely move on at this point. Because the main thing with those towns is that the support there is hesitant. They don't necessarily support Gaddafi, but they aren't really comfortable with the rebels either. I mean, I'm not sure I would be. A bunch of young men with guns riding into my town, searching for anyone that looks like a loyalist. Shooting into the air celebrating, shooting off large mortar rounds that half of them don't even know how to operate properly. It would be scary.
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| Libyan rebels retreating from a battle while mortars are being fired upon them by Gaddafi forces. Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP |
The rebels aren't necessarily viewed as liberators everywhere they go, and I think they have started to realize that. As shown with the negotiations that were held with the residents of Bani Walid, they want to show that they mean no harm to the civilians. They tried their best to assure them that they meant no harm and only wanted to liberate them from the loyalists. But with rumors flying around about indiscriminate profiling of black Africans by the rebels, it seems that some would rather be wary than fully accepting.
Besides the very real problem of facing groups of loyalist fighters, the NTC has political problems they need to worry about. The pressure from the public to take control and fix things NOW is mounting and even though serious political reform will take months, even years, the people are weary of fighting and want change. This is happening as fast as it can and I think a big problem with the revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa is that people expect too much too soon. It’s one thing to overthrow your dictator and assert a democracy. It’s another to make that democracy a productive one and to make serious strides in reform. People do realize this, but a majority are impatient and that will need addressing.
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| NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil (c) is to meet Cameron and Sarkozy during their trip. Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA |
All in all, I think it can be said that some progress is finally being made, which is certainly welcome news for anyone currently living in Libya. Although things might not quite happen at the pace people would like for them to happen, it will certainly happen. I'll be keeping an eye on you Libya, and all the things you have to offer
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