How did Moammar Gaddafi, the former Libyan leader known as the "dictator" of North Africa, go from a hero to a "mad dog of North Africa" in his life? On October 20, 2011, the "lion of North Africa" was brutally captured and killed in his hometown of Sirte, why did he go from a respected leader to a tragic figure beaten to death on the streets?
The story of Gaddafi, so to speak, began in 1942. That year he was born in Libya to a nomadic Bedouin family, poor and modest. As a teenager, Gaddafi showed extraordinary leadership skills and political ambitions. From 1956 to 1961, while studying at the Sabha Secondary School, he began to organize secret societies and participate in political activities.
In 1963, the young Gaddafi enrolled at the Benghazi Military Academy, where he not only received military training, but also read philosophy and history books avidly, gradually forming his own political ideas. In 1969, at the age of 27, he led the Free Officers to overthrow the Idris dynasty in a bloodless coup d'état, and the Libyan Arab Republic was proclaimed.
In the early days of his rule, Gaddafi's performance was impressive. He took advantage of the country's abundant oil resources to promote a series of reform measures, and Libya's infrastructure construction has developed rapidly, and the living standards of the people have improved significantly. From televisions and refrigerators to free health care and education, Libya quickly became the leader in North Africa, with a GDP per capita of $12,000, the highest in Africa.
Recently. As time went on, Gaddafi's political behavior began to become more and more authoritarian and extreme. He indulged in a cult of personality and utopian ideals, became increasingly authoritarian politically, and became increasingly corrupt economically. In 1988, he even drove a bulldozer to break down the prison walls and release 400 political prisoners, an act that caused huge controversy at home and abroad, and people began to question his mental state.
At the beginning of the 21st century, in the context of the global anti-terrorism situation, Gaddafi tried to improve relations with Western countries, but it was too late. In 2011, the Arab Spring swept North Africa and the Middle East, and massive anti-government demonstrations erupted in Libya. Faced with strong popular discontent, Gaddafi opted for force to suppress it, a decision that completely destroyed his image in the hearts of the people.
On March 19, the international coalition led by the United States, Britain and France intervened militarily in Libya, and NATO warplanes carried out precision strikes on Gaddafi's military base and command center. The situation in the war deteriorated rapidly, and the foundations of Gaddafi's rule began to shake. After months of fierce fighting, the opposition forces gradually gained the upper hand.
Finally, on October 20, 2011, the leader who had once made Libya prosperous was captured by opposition forces in his hometown of Sirte. In the final moments of his arrest, Gaddafi was mercilessly humiliated and beaten, and his pleas for mercy failed to emulate sympathy, and he eventually died in a barrage of gunfire. This former North African lion's life ended in a pool of dust and blood.
Gaddafi's death marked the end of an era. His political career has been like a drama of ups and downs, from a child from a poor family to the country's top leader, to a dictator who was spurned by the people of the whole country, and every turn was full of drama. Although he brought temporary prosperity to Libya, his autocratic rule and later tyranny also brought profound disasters to the country and its people.
This complex historical figure still makes countless people judge it today. Some people think he is a hero, some call him a dictator, and some sympathize with his final misfortune. But it is undeniable that his life was so extraordinary, so passionate, and ended in such a tragedy.