Four months after leading a bloodless coup against the monarchy of King Idris in September 1969, Muammar Gaddafi consolidated his power and officially took over the rule of Libya on January 1, 1970.
Gaddafi, who was then a 27-year-old army officer, had led a group of fellow officers in the coup, capitalizing on widespread discontent with the monarchy’s corruption and inefficiency. After the coup, a 12-member Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) was established, with Gaddafi as its chairman.
In the following months, the RCC implemented various reforms, including nationalizing oil companies, redistributing land to peasants, and promoting pan-Arabism. Gaddafi’s charisma and vision resonated with many Libyans, and he gradually became the dominant figure in the RCC.
On January 1, 1970, the RCC declared Gaddafi the supreme leader of the Libyan Arab Republic, marking the beginning of his 42-year rule. He proceeded to centralize power, impose Islamic law, and implement radical policies, including the nationalization of foreign assets and the expulsion of foreign powers.
Gaddafi’s takeover was met with widespread support from Libyans, who saw him as a champion of Arab unity and social justice. However, his rule would eventually become marked by authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and international isolation….Seê _ Morê
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