National Transitional Council

The National Transitional Council of Libya (Arabic: المجلس الوطني الإنتقالي‎ al-majlis al-waṭanī al-intiqālī ), sometimes known as the Libyan Transitional National Council,^[1] the Interim National Council,^[2] or the Libyan National Council, is the de facto government of Libya, established by anti-Gaddafi forces during the 2011 Libyan civil war, which pitted these forces against the government of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The NTC issued a Constitutional Declaration in August 2011 in which it set up a road-map for the transition of the country to a constitutional democracy with an elected government.

The formation of the NTC was announced in the city of Benghazi on 27 February 2011 with the purpose 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 "only legitimate body representing the people of Libya and the Libyan state".^[3][4][5]

An executive board, chaired by Mahmoud Jibril, was formed by the council on 23 March 2011 after being de facto assembled as an "executive team" since 5 March 2011. The council has international recognition as the legitimate governing authority in Libya until an interim authority is in place^[6] and occupies the country's seat at the United Nations.^[7] Several other countries have established unofficial ties with the National Transitional Council, with a number of those countries establishing a permanent diplomatic presence in Benghazi to liaise with council officials.

The council uses the name Libya for the Libyan state and has used the long-form name Libyan Republic, while the Gaddafi government's name for the Libyan state was the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Background

2011 uprising and civil war

After popular movements overturned the rulers of Tunisia and Egypt, Libya's immediate neighbours to the west and east, Libya experienced a full-scale uprising beginning in February 2011.^[8][9] 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 anti-Gaddafi forces. Eastern Libya, centred around the second largest city and vital port of Benghazi, was firmly under the control of the opposition. The opposition began to organise themselves into a functioning government.^[10] Anti-Gaddafi forces Forces marched on Sirte (Gaddafi's hometown) on 28 September 2011. Gaddafi loyalists delayed the attack with the use of their snipers. The fight for Sirte ended on 20 October with the capture of the town and the death of Colonel Gaddafi.^[11]

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 Bayda.^[12] 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.^[13] The podium at the meeting displayed the pre-Jamahiriya flag.^[14][15][16]

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.^[14] On 26 February, it was reported that former justice minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil was leading the process of forming an interim body, to be based in Benghazi.^[17][18] Mr Jalil 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.^[19] The efforts to form an alternative government have been supported by the Libyan ambassador in the United States, Ali Suleiman Aujali.^[20][21] The Libyan deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Omar Al Dabashi, has stated that he supported a new alternative government "in principle".^[22]

Establishment of a national council

A National Transitional Council was formed on 27 February to act as "the political face of the revolution".^[23] Its spokesman, Hafiz Ghoga, made clear at the launch press conference that the national council was not a provisional government and added that the newly formed council was not in contact with foreign governments and did not want them to intervene.^[24] He later clarified that an airstrike mandated by the United Nations would not be considered a foreign intervention.^[25]

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.^[26] 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, 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 chairman of the council.^[3][4][5]

On 10 March, France became the first country to recognise the National Interim Council as Libya's only legitimate government.

Formation of an executive board

On 23 March, the council established an Executive Board to act as a transitional government for Libya. Mahmoud Jibril, who served as chairman of the informal "executive team" since 5 March, was appointed as Chairman of that board stating that council now serves as the "legislative body", and the new Executive Board will serve as the "executive body".^[27][28] Jibril led 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

The "Declaration of the founding of the Transitional National Council" states the main aims of the council are as follows:^[29]

• Ensure the safety of the national territory and citizens
• Coordination of national efforts to liberate the rest of Libya
• Support the efforts of local councils to work for the restoration of normal civilian life
• Supervision of the Military Council to ensure the achievement of the new doctrine of the Libyan People's Army in the defense of the people and to protect the borders of Libya.
• Facilitate the election of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution for the country; be put to a popular referendum
• Form a transitional government to pave the holding of free elections
• Guide the conduct of foreign policy, and the regulation of relations with other countries and international and regional organizations, and the representation of the Libyan people

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.^[30][31] Article 1 further declares Tripoli the state capital and Arabic the official language while reserving the linguistic and cultural rights of ethnic minorities as well as the freedom of religion for religious minorities.

The stated aim of the NTC is to form a de jure interim government based in Tripoli and hold elections for a Public National Conference to replace it. The PNC will then elect a prime minister, appoint a Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution subject to its approval by the PNC and by referendum, and then oversee free elections for a representative government.^[32]

Structure and membership

Legislative body

The National Transitional Council is a body that claims to be, and is widely recognized as, the "only legitimate body representing the people of Libya and the Libyan state".^[34] Starting off at 33 members, it has now risen to 51,^[35] with proposals to increase its size further to 75 or even 125.^[36]

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. Human Rights lawyer Hafiz Ghoga was the spokesperson for the new council. An Al Jazeera English journalist in Benghazi stated that Mustafa Abdul Jalil still had a leadership role within the new council.^[24] The Council declared that Jalil was the head of the council.^[5] The council met formally for the first time on 5 March 2011^[5] when it was announced that the council has 33 members.^[37] The names of some of the members were kept secret to prevent threats to their families that were still in government held areas of Libya.^[38]

As of September 2011, some of the NTC's members are in Benghazi, while some have moved to the de jure capital Tripoli. On 8 September, the head of government Mahmoud Jibril became the highest-ranking NTC official yet to move to Tripoli. Prior to Jibril's relocation, Deputy Chairman Ali Tarhouni was the de facto leader of the NTC in Tripoli.^[39]

Members

The members of the council include:^{[40][41][42] [43]}

Council Members:

• Mustafa Abdul Jalil Chairman of the Council
• Abdul Hafiz Ghoga - Vice Chairman of the Council and Spokesman
• Zubeir Ahmed El-Sharif - Political Prisoners representative
• Omar El-Hariri - Military Council representative

City Representatives: