National Transitional Council
| Transitional National Council of the Libyan Republic المجلس الوطني الانتقالي al-majlis al-waṭanī al-intiqālī | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Motto: Freedom, Justice, Democracy | ||||||
| Anthem: Libya, Libya, Libya | ||||||
 Brown: Districts under NTC control. Green: Districts under Gaddafi control. Blue: Districts with no-overall control. | ||||||
| Capital | Claimed: Tripoli Temporary headquarters: Benghazi | |||||
| Official language(s) | Arabic (de facto) | |||||
| Demonym | Libyan | |||||
| Government | Caretaker government | |||||
| - | Chairman | Mustafa Abdul Jalil | ||||
| - | Vice Chairman | Abdul Hafiz Ghoga | ||||
| - | Interim Prime Minister | Mahmoud Jebril | ||||
| Establishment | ||||||
| - | 2011 Libyan uprising | 17 February 2011 | ||||
| - | National Council established | 27 February 2011 | ||||
| Website Official website | ||||||
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The National Transitional Council (Arabic: المجلس الوطني الانتقالي, al-majlis al-waṭanī al-intiqālī), also known as the Interim National Council or the Libyan National Council, is a political body formed to represent Libya by anti-Gaddafi rebels during the uprising against the Gaddafi regime. Its formation was announced in the city of Benghazi on 27 February 2011 and its intended purpose is to act as the "political face of the revolution". On 5 March 2011, the council issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the "sole representative of all Libya". An interim government was formed by the council on 23 March 2011. It has so far been officially recognised by France, Qatar, Maldives, Italy, Kuwait, and The Gambia, and several other countries have established unofficial diplomatic ties.
The council refers to the Libyan state as the Libyan Republic while the Gaddafi government's name for the Libyan state is the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
Background
2011 uprising and civil war
After popular movements overturned the rulers of Tunisia and Egypt, its immediate neighbours to the west and east, Libya experienced a full-scale uprising beginning in February 2011. By 20 February, the unrest had spread to Tripoli. As of late February 2011, much of Libya had slipped out of Gaddafi's control, falling to the Anti-Gaddafi forces. Eastern Libya, centered around the second city and vital port of Benghazi, was firmly under the control of the opposition. The opposition began to organise themselves into a functioning government.
Early efforts to form a government
On 24 February 2011, politicians, former military officers, tribal leaders, academics and businessmen held a meeting in the eastern city of Al Bayda. The meeting was chaired by former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil, who quit the government a few days before. The delegates discussed proposals for interim administration with many delegates asking for UN intervention in Libya. The podium at the meeting displayed the pre-Jamahiriya flag.
On 25 February 2011, Al-Jazeera TV reported that talks are taking place between "personalities from eastern and western Libya" to form an interim government for the post-Gaddafi era. On 26 February, it was reported that former justice minister Mustafa Mohamed Abud Al Jeleil was leading the process of forming an interim body, to be based in Benghazi. Mr Abud Al Jeleil stated that "Gaddafi alone bore responsibility for the crimes that have occurred" in Libya; he also insisted on the unity of Libya and that Tripoli is the capital. The efforts to form an alternative government have been supported by the Libyan ambassador in the United States, Ali Suleiman Aujali. The Libyan deputy ambassador to the United Nations, , has stated that he supported a new alternative government "in principle".
Establishment of a national council
A National Transitional Council was formed on 27 February 2011 to act as "the political face of the revolution". Its spokesman Hafiz Ghoga made clear at the launch press conference that the national council is not a provisional government and Ghoga also added that the newly formed council was not contacting foreign governments and did not want them to intervene. He later clarified that an airstrike mandated by the United Nations would not be considered a foreign intervention.
An Al Jazeera English journalist in Benghazi has reported that a fully fledged interim government will not be formed until Tripoli is under opposition control. This is in contrast to claims made by former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil on the previous day about the formation of a provisional government. These comments have now been clarified by the council as his "personal views".
On 5 March 2011, the council issued a statement in which it declared itself to be the "sole representative of all Libya". It was also stated that Mustafa Abdul Jalil was chairperson of the council.
Formation of a transitional government
On 23 March the council established a transitional government, and Mahmoud Jibril was appointed as interim Prime Minister, claiming that the council serves as the "legislative body", and the government will serve as the "Executive body". Jebril is known to be leading the meeting and negotiations with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a meeting that resulted in France officially recognizing the council as the sole representative of the Libyan people.
Aims and objectives of the national council
The "Declaration of the founding of the Transitional National Council" states the main aims of the council are as follows:
In another statement clarifying the goals for a post-Gaddafi Libya, the council has committed itself an eight-point plan to hold free and fair elections, draft a national constitution, form political and civil institutions, uphold intellectual and political pluralism, and guarantee citizens' inalienable human rights and the ability of free expression of their aspirations. The council also emphasized its rejection of racism, intolerance, discrimination, and terrorism.
Council structure and membership
Transitional National Council (legislative body)
| Transitional National Council المجلس الوطني الانتقالي, al-majlis al-waṭanī al-intiqālī | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | Unicameral |
| Leadership | |
| Chairman | Mustafa Abdul Jalil |
| Vice Chairman | Abdul Hafiz Ghoga |
| Members | 31 members |
| Meeting place | |
| Benghazi, Libya (interim) | |
| Website | |
| http://ntclibya.org/english/ | |
The Transitional National Council is a 31 member body that claims to be the "only legitimate body representing the people of Libya and the Libyan state".
Al Jazeera English reported that each city or town under opposition control will be given five seats on the new council and that contact will be established with new cities that come under opposition control to allow them to join the council. The identities of members of the council were not disclosed at the launch conference. What is known is that human rights lawyer Hafiz Ghoga is the spokesperson for the new council. An Al Jazeera English journalist in Benghazi stated that Mustafa Mohamed Abud Al Jeleil still had a leadership role within the new council. The Council declared that Jeleil is the head of the council. The council met formally for the first time on 5 March 2011 when it was announced that the council has 31 members. The names of some of the members are being kept secret to prevent threats to their families that are still in Government held areas of Libya.
Membership of the council
The council has 31 members; the identities of several members has not been made public to protect their own safety.
The members of the council include:
Interim government (executive body)
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On 5 March 2011, a crisis committee was set up to act as the executive arm of the council. A transitional government was announced on 23 March 2011.
The executive body consists of:
Other ministers are yet to be announced.
Local government
In opposition-held Benghazi, a 15 member "local committee" made up of lawyers, judges and respected local people has been formed in order to provide civic administration and public services within the city. Residents have organised to direct traffic and collect refuse. Many shops and businesses have opened again. A newspaper and two local radio stations have also been established.
Similar "local committees" are being formed in other cities controlled by opposition groups.
Commercial bodies
The council has established the following commercial bodies to manage its financial affairs:
Armed forces
The Anti-Gaddafi forces is a Libyan armed force which was constituted during the 2011 Libyan civil war by defected military members in order to engage in battle against both remaining members of the Libyan Armed Forces and paramilitary loyal to the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. The Free Libyan Army is the army. The Free Libyan Air Force is the NTCs air arm, with assets including captured/defected fighter jets and helicopters.
On 1 April 2011, Abdul Fatah Younis was announced as commander of the armed forces, in an attempt to insert an organized fighting structure due to a string of failures.
Foreign relations
Foreign policy
Recognition
International response
Countries
The council has stated that it would like to be recognised by the international community. The Chair of the Council told Al Jazeera that “there are official contacts with European and Arab [countries]”.
International organisations
The following organisations have expressed their support for the council:
Individuals
The following individuals have expressed their support for the council:
Military intervention
United Nations resolution 1973 authorized a multi-national effort to establish a no-fly zone. On 19 March, British, French and United States air forces began attacking targets in Gaddafi-controlled Libya, thereby initiating UN military intervention.
