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Middle East and North Africa
Libya |
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Last reviewed: February 2008 |
Country information
POLITICS
The General People’s Congress (GPC) is formally responsible for formulating policy and passing laws in accordance with the decisions of the many local and regional People’s Congresses. The GP Congress meets annually and comprises delegates from the Basic People’s Congresses, the 20 administrative Sha’abiyat (regional level) Popular Committees and the newly elected communes. Representatives from the trade unions and professional organisations also attend. The GP Congress last met in January 2007.
The GP Congress provides a forum for debate and criticism and has on occasion obstructed policies proposed, but strong direction from the leadership can be obeyed.
Central government is made up of General People’s Committees that cover the core national issues: Foreign Affairs, Finance, Justice, Public Security, Economy and Trade, Workforce and Training, Planning and Tourism, Energy, etc. Secretaries of the GP Committees hold the equivalent of Ministerial rank and act as a link between the People's Committees and the Executive. The GP Congress has its own Secretariat. Its Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Suleiman Shahoumi) acts to some extent as an alternate Foreign Minister.
DEFENCE
Colonel Qadhafi, as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, exercises control over the defence establishment and security services. There is no General People’s Committee for Defence. All male Libyans should complete two years' conscription in the armed forces.
The EU arms embargo on Libya was lifted on 11 October 2004. All UK defence exports to Libya require an export licence. Licence applications are judged against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria on a case by case basis.
LIBYAN OPPOSITION GROUPS
There are numerous small groups opposed to the regime of Col. Qadhafi, the vast majority of which are based outside Libya. The National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL), the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) are perhaps the best known groups in the external opposition. The LIFG has links to al-Qaeda and is proscribed in the UK. The NFSL’s importance reflects its financial strength.
Internal opposition is rare although there were significant disturbances in the East of the country in 1993 and 1996. In February 2006, a demonstration in Benghazi against cartoons of Mohammed got out of control as protestors turned their attention towards the regime. At least 11 people died as police tried to regain control.
