Alternative Africa

Top Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Reports
    • Africa-Observers
      • Read Reports
      • Submit a story
  • MORE
    • Health
    • News Now
    • World
    • Technology
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

logo

Alternative Africa

  • Home
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Reports
    • Africa-Observers
      • Read Reports
      • Submit a story
  • MORE
    • Health
    • News Now
    • World
    • Technology
  • UK to cut aid to Nigeria, other African countries by more than 50%

  • All you need to know about the side effects of COVID-19 vaccine

  • Ghanaian footballer faces life jail over death of policeman

  • Ghana receives additional 50k doses of covid-19 vaccines from India

  • Confidence in covid-19 vaccines grows as medical doctor gets first jab in Nigeria

News Now
Home›News Now›After IS, Libya yearns for normality

After IS, Libya yearns for normality

By alternativeafrica
December 7, 2017
691
0
Share:
Destruction in the Giza al-Bahriya area of Sirte, days after the entire city was captured in December 2016Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption The Giza al-Bahriya area of Sirte, days after the entire city was captured from IS in December 2016

One year on from a military campaign that successfully expelled so-called Islamic State (IS) from its Libyan stronghold of Sirte, residents have complained of the scale of destruction that remains.

Months of fighting left scenes of devastation similar to those seen recently in the Syria city of Raqqa, where IS was pushed out in October.

The IS reign in Sirte was known for its brutality. But the euphoria and celebration in the wake of the military offensive that succeeded in ousting the jihadists in December 2016 have dissipated into frustration and a yearning for life to return to normal.

Battle scars remain

Towards the end of 2017, residents from areas of Sirte that were hardest hit by the fighting staged protests against the lack of reconstruction efforts.

They blamed both of Libya’s rival authorities – the eastern-based parliament and the UN-backed Tripoli Government of National Accord (GNA) – for the situation in the city, though Sirte falls under the authority of the GNA.

Some 1,600 homes were destroyed in the bid to push IS out, Libyan media have said.

Demonstrators, including children, held up posters in front of battered buildings. “Dear government, why have you ignored our city?!” read one. “Reconstruction first,” said another.

Image copyright 218 TV
Image caption Protesters gathered in October calling on the authorities to rebuild Sirte

Struggle for a normal life

“I can’t speak for the protesters, but most Sirte residents just want life to return to normal as quickly as possible,” one local, Abdullah, told the BBC.

He preferred to be identified only by his first name, “because IS continues to pose a threat to us”.

“Sirte’s residents lived for many months under IS’s oppressive rule. We all suffered huge losses. IS killed our relatives and our friends, and left destruction in our city,” said Abdullah, who helps run a local Facebook page.

“After all this fear, we need a long time for our wounds to heal and to rebuild our city.”

Under IS’s brutal rule, people had posted images on social media and shared fond memories of life before the jihadists controlled Sirte.

Image copyright @agly1988 / Getty Images
Image caption During IS’ occupation of Sirte, people used the Twitter hashtag #beloved_Sirte to recall fond memories of the city

Analysis

By Mary Fitzgerald, Libya analyst

The reconstruction of Sirte is one of a myriad of challenges faced by Libya. With the UN-backed unity government in Tripoli still struggling to impose its authority and too many factions determined to torpedo the entire UN-mediated dialogue process, the prospects of Sirte receiving the attention it needs anytime soon are slim.

Libya’s second city Benghazi has also been devastated by fighting and it too faces the enormous task of rebuilding and reconciliation. As long as Libya’s power struggles continue, its citizens will bear the brunt.

Life has become desperate for many. Some find it so unbearable that they have started taking the smugglers’ boats to Europe. At least 600 Libyans have made that journey this year.


Return of IS?

A serious challenge to Sirte’s recovery is that the threat of IS still looms large.

The group appears to be trying to regroup and attack Sirte from nearby locations.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Forces loyal to Libya’s GNA fought for around seven months to expel IS

Losing the city was a major blow to the group’s propaganda efforts to portray it as a foothold on the doorstop of Europe.

Though it is unlikely to retake territory, IS has continued to wage sporadic attacks. In October it released an upbeat video of its fighters in Libya, saying that the group was making a comeback.

“Many people who fled the city have returned now. But we are still worried that the IS terrorists will return. For that we need help and support, so we can guarantee IS isn’t able to come back, and to ensure a safe life for us and our families,” Abdullah told us.

Authorities divided

One obstacle to reconstruction is the seemingly irreparable political crisis.

Rounds of negotiations sponsored by the UN and Libya’s neighbours have so far failed to heal the political rift between its rival authorities. The operations to recapture the city were led by militias sympathetic to the GNA, and supported by US air strikes.

The GNA has not responded to a BBC request for comment. But in November, GNA Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj instructed the authorities to urgently resolve the dire living conditions.

“The government has a vision for Sirte to be one of the main cities prioritised for reconstruction as soon as the financial situation has improved,” his media office said.

From Sirte, Abdullah told us progress could be achieved, but only through unity.

“We are sure that we can get back to normal – it is our duty. The best way to eliminate the danger of IS is to work together in the spirit of partnership. Every day we see volunteer initiatives by the young men and women of Sirte to contribute to reconstruction. We must all encourage them,” he said.

Haniya, from the local council, echoed his words: “The city needs everyone to rally around it, locally and internationally.”

BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.

SHARE ON:
TagsAfricaBreakingNews
Previous Article

Zimbabwe budget woos foreign investors

Next Article

Sierra Leone coach John Keister defends national ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

alternativeafrica

Related articles More from author

  • News Now

    Zambia foreign minister Harry Kalaba resigns over ‘greed’

    January 3, 2018
    By alternativeafrica
  • AfricaBusinessEnvironmentNews Now

    AfDB approves $149m loan for renewable energy in Uganda, Liberia, 3 other African countries

    January 8, 2019
    By alternativeafrica
  • AfricaBusinessNews Now

    Africa must work together to boost oil cash and be at par with big players-Mahaman Gaya

    December 26, 2018
    By alternativeafrica
  • News Now

    Boko Haram Killings Doubled In Past 5 Months, Amnesty International Reports

    September 5, 2017
    By alternativeafrica
  • News NowSports

    Wilfried Bony: Striker says his children wanted Swansea move

    September 8, 2017
    By alternativeafrica
  • News Now

    Libya detention love story and the child of destiny

    December 10, 2017
    By alternativeafrica

Leave a reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You might be interested

  • BusinessNews Now

    Franchising: Big possibilities for small businesses

  • News NowPolitics

    Emmerson Mnangagwa dissolves Mugabe cabinet

  • BusinessNews Now

    NUMBER: TMEA/FWC2018/001 – PROVISION OF GOODS AND SERVICES AT ONE STOP BORDER POSTS (OSBPs) FUNDED BY TRADEMARK EAST AFRICA

Timeline

  • March 6, 2021

    UK to cut aid to Nigeria, other African countries by more than 50%

  • March 6, 2021

    All you need to know about the side effects of COVID-19 vaccine

  • March 6, 2021

    Ghanaian footballer faces life jail over death of policeman

  • March 5, 2021

    Ghana receives additional 50k doses of covid-19 vaccines from India

  • March 5, 2021

    Confidence in covid-19 vaccines grows as medical doctor gets first jab in Nigeria

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Lagos govt confirms first case of deadly coronavirus infection in Nigeria

    By alternativeafrica
    February 28, 2020
  • Keynote Address of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at 2018 Oxford Africa Conference

    By PSJ Africa
    May 14, 2018
  • Morocco begins regional integration by connecting Casablanca Airport with High Speed Train

    By alternativeafrica
    January 4, 2020
  • Kenyan govt pressure Facebook for data on Kenyan users

    By alternativeafrica
    November 20, 2019
  • Nigeria: 32,000 capacity Lagos rice mill to start production in 2020

    By alternativeafrica
    December 23, 2019
  • Ado zagi
    on
    January 12, 2021

    Nigeria: EFCC Academy to begin award of degree

    Diploma leave areply from
  • Ethiopia joins Africa's Artificial Intelligence revolution | Alternative Africa
    on
    October 2, 2020

    Spending on Artificial Intelligence Systems in Africa, Middle East to top $374 million in 2020

    […] Many African countries ...
  • The 5 most popular Africans 2020
    on
    September 25, 2020

    Celebrating Congolese doctor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the man behind breakthrough of Ebola cure

    […] Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two | taktik(z) GDI (Government Defense ...
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack fol­lowed a January ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack followed a ...
AlternativeAfrica.com is an independent Pan African News Website dedicated primarily to influencing the negative narratives about Africa. We hope to do this by focusing and showcasing the many developmental strides sweeping across the continent.

Read more >>>

Contact Info

  • info@alternativeafrica.com
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • UK to cut aid to Nigeria, other African countries by more than 50%

    By alternativeafrica
    March 6, 2021
  • All you need to know about the side effects of COVID-19 vaccine

    By alternativeafrica
    March 6, 2021
  • Ghanaian footballer faces life jail over death of policeman

    By alternativeafrica
    March 6, 2021
  • Ghana receives additional 50k doses of covid-19 vaccines from India

    By alternativeafrica
    March 5, 2021
  • Lagos govt confirms first case of deadly coronavirus infection in Nigeria

    By alternativeafrica
    February 28, 2020
  • Keynote Address of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at 2018 Oxford Africa Conference

    By PSJ Africa
    May 14, 2018
  • Macron in Ivory Coast to launch anti-terrorism academy

    By alternativeafrica
    December 21, 2019
  • Kenyan govt pressure Facebook for data on Kenyan users

    By alternativeafrica
    November 20, 2019
  • Ado zagi
    on
    January 12, 2021

    Nigeria: EFCC Academy to begin award of degree

    Diploma leave areply from
  • Ethiopia joins Africa's Artificial Intelligence revolution | Alternative Africa
    on
    October 2, 2020

    Spending on Artificial Intelligence Systems in Africa, Middle East to top $374 million in 2020

    […] Many African countries ...
  • The 5 most popular Africans 2020
    on
    September 25, 2020

    Celebrating Congolese doctor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the man behind breakthrough of Ebola cure

    […] Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe ...
  • Millitants in Central Mali Set Jail Ablaze in Attack Killing Two | taktik(z) GDI (Government Defense ...
    on
    August 11, 2020

    Fifteen gendarmes killed in another attack on Mali camp

    […] attack fol­lowed a January ...

Photostream

    Follow us

    • Home
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    © Copyright Alternative Africa 2019. All rights reserved.