27 August 2011

LONDON: With Moammar Gadhafi effectively forced from power, Libya’s complex tribal and cultural divisions could hinder attempts by the Benghazi-based rebel leadership to impose its rule on the country.

At worst, some analysts believe that the country could face a bout of ethnic infighting that residual Gadhafi loyalists may try to exploit, complicating attempts to rebuild the war-wracked country, resume oil exports and return to relative peace.

Libya has long been divided between various ethnicities and groups including North Africa’s indigenous Berber inhabitants, Arabs who arrived later and ethnic African tribal groups from further south. Cultural divisions between its two major cities of Tripoli and Benghazi can be traced to before the Romans.

With some reports of reprisal attacks against individuals and groups accused of backing Gadhafi, analysts said that divisions could worsen if law and order are not restored in the coming weeks.

Below is a summary of some of the main tribal and regional divisions within Libya. PROVINCIAL DIVISIONS Coastal Libya has been divided into two distinct provinces since before the time of the Romans – Tripolitania in the west around Tripoli and Cyrenaica around Benghazi.

In its early stages, the conflict divided Libya once again along those lines, with the area around Benghazi under opposition control and the rebels taking the flag of the former Cyrenaican monarchy ousted by Gadhafi.

Benghazi-based rebel forces struggled to push Gadhafi loyalists back beyond the traditional provincial tribal boundary near the oil port of Brega, leaving it to western Libyan rebels – many ethnic Berbers – to take Tripoli.

Experts say opposition to Gadhafi was always higher in eastern areas although several western tribes repeatedly rebelled against him. Gadhafi’s support was strongest in his own tribe as well as southern tribes from Libya’s old desert province of Fazzan.

 

ETHNIC, TRIBAL DIVISIONS

Some Libyans, mostly in the rebel movement, say traditional structures are not very important in urban areas, but others say that they may prove vital in the absence of traditional government structures.

Below are some of the main tribes and other ethnic groups:GADHAFA Gadhafi’s tribe is one of Libya’s smaller groups and not particularly powerful historically. With its territory running from the port of Sirte midway between Tripoli and Benghazi down into the Sahara, he used it to help cement his power.

Analysts say the tribe became wealthy under his rule, is sometimes accused of having a stranglehold on power and makes up the core elements of some of the “regime protection units.” But some members – perhaps part of assorted subtribes that benefited less from his – may have abandoned him early in the uprising.

The rebels’ National Transitional Council has made contact with some members of the group, but analysts say that reprisals or attacks against those believed to have been loyal to Gadhafi could cause problems.

WARFALLA Usually estimated to be Libya’s largest tribe with up to a million of the total roughly 6 million population, tribal elders announced early on that they were turning against Gadhafi.

The tribe is based primarily to the east of Tripoli with its origins in Misrata, initially besieged by Gadhafi’s forces and home to some of the rebels who took Tripoli. Some of their territory reaches towards Sirte. The tribe launched a coup against Gadhafi in 1993 with the support of the Magarha tribe demanding greater representation in government.

Although the coup failed and a number of leaders were killed, imprisoned and driven into exile, the tribe maintained sizeable numbers within the military. The tribe includes six subtribes.

MAGARHA Analysts say this tribe is the second largest and it has had mixed relations with Gadhafi’s government. Originally from the interior, many members have moved to the coast as the tribe has played an increasingly central role in politics. Leader Abdessalam Jalloud was once seen as the second most important man in the country, but he fell out with Gadhafi in the 1990s and the tribe joined the 1993 uprising.

After the coup failed, the tribe was able to maintain closer relations with the Gadhafi regime following closed-door negotiations.

TUAREGThe traditionally nomadic Tuareg is divided between a number of states in the Sahara whose borders they do not recognize. Analysts estimate just over 560,000 live within Libya.

Tuareg rebels have attacked other Saharan governments and oil installations in pursuit of independence but have traditionally not clashed with the Libyan government, leading some to suspect that Gadhafi armed them.

BERBERS Estimated to make up to 50 percent of the population of the western mountains, the Berbers were seen as largely marginalized under Gadhafi’s rule in favor of the majority Arabs. Many of them helped take Tripoli.

The NTC specifically targeted this group – which was key to their victory – and their draft constitution makes it clear they will be viewed as equal to their Arab counterparts.

BARA’SA Gadhafi’s second wife came from this eastern tribe and many of his children are believed to support it, with some members being appointed to mid-level bureaucratic posts. While many members quickly went over to the opposition, the tribal leaders appeared reluctant to make overt statements concerning their loyalty during the uprising.

ZUWAYYAH Largely rural and living in oil-producing regions of the east and interior, the tribe is relatively small but might demand greater say in the use of oil revenues. They are reported to have been among the most vocal opponents of Gadhafi during the uprising, and are said to be relatively well armed. Ultimately, their main interest is continued benefits from Libya’s oil.

Copyright The Daily Star 2011.