BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

The Real Story

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Politics

Global experts and decision makers discuss, debate and analyse a key news story.

The Real Story: Was it a mistake to overthrow Gaddafi?

Factual

Hafter Getty.jpg

28/02/2020 GMT

Was it a mistake to overthrow Gaddafi?

BBC World Service - The Real Story, Was it a mistake to overthrow Gaddafi?

Nato helped overthrow Muammar Gaddafi's brutal rule. But is Libya any better off today?

In 2011, a Nato-led coalition intervened with lethal air power to aide forces taking part in an uprising against Libya’s brutal military leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Shortly after, Col Gaddafi was caught and killed by rebels and there were high hopes the country would become a safer and more open place. But since then, fighting between militias has destroyed much of Libya and two rival governments now vie for full control of the country. As talks take place at the UN in Geneva this week aimed at addressing the crisis, we ask whether it was a mistake for the West to help overthrow Gaddafi? As the government led by General Khalifa Haftar from his base in Benghazi gains increasing influence, is the battle for Libya nearing its completion? And as Gen Haftar is accused of overseeing a crackdown on dissent in the parts of the country he runs, would a Libya governed by him be any better than the one run by Col Gaddafi?

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Real Story

Was it a mistake to overthrow Gaddafi?

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service