Libya’s Path to Independence: A 40-Year Struggle

Following Italy’s invasion of Libya in 1911 amid the Ottoman Empire’s dissolution, the Libyan people mounted sustained resistance against colonial occupation.

The Resistance Movement
The Senussi movement, under Ahmed Al-Sharif Al-Senussi, spearheaded the resistance, mobilising tribal leaders across Tripolitania and Cyrenaica. Notable resistance figures included Suleiman Al-Baruni, Ramadan Al-Suwaihli, and Abdul Nabi Balkhair. The movement culminated in the leadership of Omar Al-Mukhtar, who was executed by Italian authorities in Suluq in 1931.

Post-War Developments
Italy’s defeat in World War II led to British administration of most of Libya, while France controlled the Fezzan region. By 1948, the major powers referred Libya’s status to the United Nations.

The Bevin-Sforza Proposal
British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin and Italian Foreign Minister Carlo Sforza proposed extending colonial administration and dividing Libya between Britain, Italy, and France. The plan’s defeat at the UN, notably influenced by Haiti’s vote, marked a turning point toward independence.

Transition to Independence
A Constituent Assembly representing Libya’s three regions drafted the constitution and established a provisional federal government under Mahmoud Al-Muntasir. The process culminated in King Idris Al-Senussi declaring Libya’s independence from Al-Manar Palace in Benghazi on December 24, 1951.