Libyans fight back against U.S.-NATO puppet regime

Since the U.S.-NATO-engineered war began against Libya last March 19, a new push has begun to recolonize Africa through the machinations of various intelligence agencies, special forces and surrogate militias armed and trained by the imperialists. Regional insecurity has grown rapidly.

The bombing and war in Libya killed tens of thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands inside Libya and throughout the region, including many of the 2 million immigrant workers employed in Libyan construction, medical, service and oil industry jobs.

The war and the new regime assassinated many top officials of the government, including martyred leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi and several of his family members. Others have fled to neighboring states including Niger and Algeria.

Al-Saadi Gadhafi speaks from Niger

One of the late leader’s sons, Al-Saadi Gadhafi, was interviewed in Niger by Al-Arabiya satellite television on Feb. 13. Saadi noted the widespread disaffection and anger inside Libya resulting from worsening conditions of the majority of people since the overthrow.

Saadi acknowledged the ongoing resistance by loyalist forces in Libya. He predicted a general uprising soon aimed at the overthrow of the U.S.-NATO-backed rebel regime of the so-called National Transitional Council. Forces loyal to the former government seized control of Bani Walid in January and have been launching attacks in the Nafusa Mountains, Benghazi and the capital, Tripoli.

Saadi told Al-Arabiya, “First of all, it is not going to be an uprising limited to some areas. It will cover all the regions of the Jamahiriya [the state of the masses]. I am following and witnessing this as it grows bigger by the day.”

Reflecting on the conditions facing Libyans one year after the Western-backed rebellion started, he said, “The Libyan people should revolt against the deteriorating situation. The NTC is not a legitimate body and is not in control of the militias.

“I have daily communications with Libya from Niger to follow up on the status of our tribes, our relatives and the people,” Saadi continued. “I can confirm that more than 70 percent of those who are in Libya now, whether they support the February 17th rebellion or not, all are not satisfied with the situation and are ready to cooperate to change it.”

The NTC rebel regime has demanded Niger extradite Saadi tTripoli to stand trial. The Niger government has refused. As a result, relations between the the Niger government and the NTC regime have worsened in recent months.

Niger government spokesman Marou Amadou told a recent news conference: “We will hand over Saadi Gadhafi to a government which has an independent and impartial justice system. But we cannot hand over someone to a place where he could face the death penalty or where he is not likely to have a trial worthy of the name.” (The Africa Report, Feb. 13)

Aisha Gadhafi speaks from Algeria

The slain Libyan leader’s daughter, Aisha Gadhafi, wrote a letter to the United Nations from Algeria through her lawyer. She demanded an international investigation into the circumstances surrounding her father’s and brother Mo’tassim’s deaths.

“These murders were witnessed by the whole world and have been roundly condemned by those who champion the rule of law. It is inconceivable, therefore, that the commission of inquiry should refuse to investigate these matters,” she wrote.

Aisha Gadhafi, a lawyer by profession herself, was part of a defense team that sought justice for the slain leader of Iraq, President Saddam Hussein. She also requested an International Criminal Court investigation into Gadhafi’s death, but the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, rejected this appeal.

Human Rights violations continue

Aisha Gadhafi has also attempted to submit information to the ICC related to the condition of her brother Seif al-Islam, who is being held illegally by the rebel NTC regime in Libya. Seif has had several fingers severed, and is not being allowed to see defense attorneys hired by the Gadhafi family.

NTC rebel leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil said Seif al-Islam is being interrogated, and will be moved to a prison in Tripoli in order to stand trial within two months. (Reuters, Feb. 12)

The NTC, however, has established no viable legal system in Libya since it overthrew Libya’s sovereign government. The NTC does not even have control over its own officials and militias, who are fighting each other regularly.

Rebels have detained over 8,000 people in prisons, many of whom are Black Libyans and Africans from other countries. Even Human Rights Watch — an enemy of the Gadhafi government — has reported that the Misrata rebels have looted and burned homes of the Tawergha people, who are dark-skinned Libyans driven from their villages in the central region into Tripoli. In the capital they are under constant attack by the NTC.

Despite repeated claims by the Obama administration that the Libyan people have been “liberated” by the imperialist-backed war, the conditions for the majority of the population worsen every day. The war has created great turmoil and suffering throughout West and North Africa.

Tuareg people challenge Mali gov’t

In neighboring Mali, the Tuareg-led forces that fought alongside the Jamahiriya — the pro-Gadhafi government — during the first phase of the anti-imperialist war in Libya have returned to Mali and opened up a front against the government in Bamako.

A Feb. 10 Reuters article reported, “The flood of weapons and fighters out of Libya has now added to an arc of insecurity across West Africa, stretching from Boko Haram Islamists behind a spate of lethal bombings in Nigeria to al-Qaeda allies who have targeted Westerners and armed forces in the Sahel all the way to Mauritania in the north.” A Malian army official claimed the Tuareg fighters were well-armed.

The Tuareg fighters have formed a National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), seeking an independent state. The Malian government has rejected these demands but may be forced to open up negotiations with the MNLA.

The lesson of the Libyan war is a lesson regarding Syria, where U.S. and Gulf State-backed rebels are heavily armed in an effort aimed at regime change. Imperialism and its allies have never brought peace and security to oppressed nations. The only salvation for the postcolonial states is the total recognition of their independence and sovereignty as free and liberated zones.