What is the basic information about Libya country?

Though Libya's economic future changed with the discovery of petroleum in the late 1950s, today it faces political turmoil.

Ranu Joardar

Libya is an oil-rich desert country, which in the past couple of years has become an important crossover for migrants intending to reach Europe. It is currently ranked 92 among the major economies. Let us know more about this North African country.

History

Historically, Libya was never heavily populated or a power centre. Before the discovery of oil in the late 1950s, the country was seen as poor in natural resources. It was mostly dependent upon foreign aid and imports for the maintenance of its economy.

The discovery of petroleum changed the fate of Libya. The country's first productive oil well was struck in 1959 at Amal and Zelten, now known as Nasser. The country began exporting oil in 1961.

The first settlers of Libya were the Berbers during the Late Bronze Age, around 1200 BC. The land was then home to the Phoenicians (an ancient Mediterranean civilisation). They established coastal trading posts in the 7th Century BC

The name 'Libya' was given by the Greeks when they occupied the eastern part of the country. The country was also once part of the Roman empire.

Around 700 AD, the Arabs came and introduced Islam to the area. From the 16th Century, the country was under the Ottoman Empire until Italy conquered it in 1912. The French and British took over Libya during the Second World War in 1943.

Libya finally gained its independence in 1951. However, it was ruled by monarchs till 1969 when Colonel Muammar Gaddafi overthrew King Idris I.

Gaddafi controlled Libya until the 2011 revolution when he was killed. Despite achieving independence from autocratic rule, the country continues to rebuild its government.

Geography

The fourth-largest country in Africa is mostly a desert and most of its population lives along the coast and its immediate hinterland (region lying inland from a coast). The de facto capital, Tripoli, and Benghazi (second-largest city) are on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Libya is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt. As the country is part of the Sahara desert (the world's largest hot desert), the country has no permanent rivers.

To access the water below the desert, the Great Man-Made River was constructed to deliver fresh water to the cities through a network of underground pipelines.

Flora and fauna

As the country's coastal plains have high precipitation, these regions are home to herbaceous vegetation and annual grasses such as asphodel (a herb of the lily family).

The north of Akhdar mountains is covered with a dense forest of juniper and lentisc. Though the semiarid regions lack vegetation, the most commonly found plants here include saltwort (a plant used in making soda ash), spurge flax (a shrubby plant), goosefoot.

Asida is a popular traditional dish served in Libya during celebrations such as births or Eid. Wormwood, and asphodel.

The country is home to wild animals like desert rodents (desert hare and the jerboa), hyenas, foxes (fennec and the red fox), jackals, skunks, gazelles, and wildcats. Its largest national park, El Kouf National Park, is known for its sand dunes, wetlands, and hilly terrain.

The country's native birds include wild ringdove, partridge, lark, and prairie hen.

People

About 97% of the country's population consists of the Berber and Arab ethnic groups. Most Libyans speak Arabic, which is the country's official language. At the beginning of the 21st Century, the country saw a rise in the number of foreign migrant workers, mainly from sub-Saharan African countries. About 25% population live either in Tripoli or Benghazi and the rest live near desert oases, where they can access water.

The country is famous for its weaving, embroidery, and metal engraving. Traditional Libyan food is a blend of North African.  Berber,  and Mediterranean cuisines. Couscous, lamb, dates, and olives feature heavily in the Libyan cuisine

Politics

Following independence, Libya was ruled by monarchs. After overthrowing King Idris I in 1969 and suspending the constitution in a military coup, the country turned into an authoritarian state. Till 1977, Libya was ruled by a 12-member Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) with Colonel Gaddafi as secretary-general. Though he resigned from the post in 1979, he continued to be the de facto ruler of the country and head of the revolution until he was killed during the 2011 revolution.

Since 2014, the country has had competing political and military factions fighting for power. Though the two sides signed a permanent ceasefire in 2020, political rivalries continue leaving the country in a turmoil. Currently, the Prime Minister of Libya is Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, leader of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Libya Revolt of 2011

On February 15, 2011, anti-government protests were held in Benghazi after the arrest of human rights lawyer Fethi Tarbel. The protesters demanded the resignation of Gaddafi and the release of political prisoners. The protests gained momentum despite the Libyan security forces using lethal force against demonstrators. Soon, international pressure for Gaddafi to step down increased and sanctions against the regime were imposed by the UN Security Council. On October 20, Gaddafi was killed by rebel fighters in his hometown.

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Ecuador: Complex legacy of indigenous, colonial pasts

Named after Equator, the country was colonised by the Inca and Spanish empires before achieving independence in 1833. It has also been a part of several key scientific expeditions.

Ranu Joardar

Ecuador is located in northwestern South America. It is one of the most environmentally diverse countries and has even contributed to the environmental sciences such as establishing basic theories of modem geography and evolutionary biology.

Geography

Ecuador is named after Equator, which is the imaginary line around the Earth. While the Equator divides the country in two, most parts of it lie in the Southern Hemisphere. The country is bordered by Colombia and Peru. Andes Mountains are the backbone of the country; the Oriente in the east of the Andes is rich in oil Cotopaxi in the Andes is the highest active volcano in the world.

The Galapagos Islands, which lie 900 km west of Ecuador, are home to unique reptiles, birds, and plants. In the Costa or coastal plain region, most of the bananas in the world are grown.

Though Mount Everest's peak is the highest altitude above sea level, Ecuadors Mount Chimborazo is the highest point above Earth's centre. It is located at a degree south of the Equator where Earth's bulge is greatest. Despite having a height of only about 20.702 feet, it is the closest point on Earth to the stars.

History

Ecuador is a mixture of indigenous and colonial pasts. Most parts of the country were part of the Inca empire, the largest political unit of pre-Columbian America, Peru-centred Inca Empire in the 15th Century. A century later, it became a Spanish colony and remained under its rule for 300 years. The country gained independence from Spain in 1822.

However, the country's history dates back to long before even the Inca conquest. Pottery figurines and containers dating from 3000 to 2500 BC have been discovered, which makes them one of the earliest ceramics in the New World. By the 1400s,

Ecuador was divided among warring chiefdoms. Though the country had sophisticated raised-field cultivation systems and trade networks, it lacked cities and States until after the Inca conquest.

Flora and fauna

The wet lowlands of the Oriente and the northern and southeastern parts of the Costa are covered with tropical rainforests. Balsa trees, found in the Guayas River valley, are heavily exploited for their light wood. Meanwhile, the cinchona trees in the eastern forest have been a valuable source of quinine (medications to treat malaria) before its synthetic equivalents.

The rainforest is home to a wide variety of monkeys and carnivorous mammals such as jaguars, ocelots, foxes, weasels, otters, skunks, raccoons, coatis, and kinkajous. Besides, tapir, deer, and peccary are also found in the region. The region is home to about 1,500 species of birds such as condors, hummingbirds, blue-footed boobies, and parrots.

People and culture

The ethnic population includes several indigenous language-speaking people and highland and lowland Spanish-speaking mestizos (people of mixed indigenous and European descent). Most people describe themselves as mestizo.

The population also includes descendants of Africans and more-recent immigrants from countries such as Lebanon, China, Korea, Japan, Italy, and Germany.

Though Spanish is the official language, there are dialectal differences between Sierra and Costa Spanish. Sierra Spanish is influenced by Quichua. Quichua and Shuar (both of which are official intercultural languages) as well as other ancestral languages are spoken by the indigenous people.

Interestingly, people here identify more with their region or village than with the country. It can be said that the country may be divided into a dozen major folk-cultural regions such as norteno mestizo, northern Quechua, Esmeraldeno blacks, Shuar (Jivaro), and Amazonian Quechua.

Their holidays are associated with particular foods or drinks, and music. During Easter, the popular food, especially in the mountain highlands, is fanesca, which is a traditional Ecuadorian soup made with grains, vegetables, and hard-boiled eggs. Chilli sauce is part of most meals. In the coastal regions, the popular food is seviche, which is made with shrimp or shellfish or even mushrooms pickled with lemon juice, cilantro, and onions.

The country is a favourite tourist destination for its jazz, poetry readings, folk music, and arena rock concerts.

There are numerous architectural masterpieces in Ecuador such as the large tolas (pre-Inca ramp mounds) of the northern highlands, those protected at the Cochasqui archaeological park: the Inca stone walls of Ingapirca near Canar; the great colonial churches of Quito (especially San Francisco and La Compania) with their paintings and gilt wood carving. The old urban centre of Quito was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978, as was that of Cuenca in 1999.

Football is Ecuador's national sport. Their other fovourite sports include basketball and volleyball.

Scientific marvels

The first scientific expedition to measure the Earth's circumference, led by Charles-Marie de La Condamine of France, was in Ecuador. Renowned naturalists Alexander von Humboldt of Prussia and Charles Darwin of England conducted research in Ecuador to establish basic theories of modern geography, ecology, and evolutionary biology.

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FLAGS AND THE STORIES BEHIND THEM

Flags of most countries of the world have interesting stories that are a mix of their political, cultural and social histories. Here are six flags with unique backstories.

NEPAL

One of the only non-quadrilateral flags in the world, this one consists of two crimson-red triangles, with a deep blue border. While the red symbolises bravery, it is also the colour of the rhododendron, the colour of Nepal's national flower. The blue signifies peace. The current flag was adopted in 1962 along with the formation of a new constitutional government.

AUSTRIA

Legend has it that the flag of Austria was inspired by the colour of blood. The flag is believed to have been invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria, who, during a fierce battle, was drenched in blood. Every bit of his white surcoat was soaked in blood, except the portion underneath his belt. When he removed his belt, a white strip was revealed and the duke was struck by the combination of red-white-red and he is said to have adopted the colours as his banner. The flag's first recorded use is believed to be in 1230.

BHUTAN

A white druk sprawls across the flag of Bhutan. Druk in Bhutanese means dragon. Known as the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon', it seems only fair that the flag carries an image of the mythical creature. The flag was designed in 1947, but the current design with yellow and orange has been in use since 1969. The white of the dragon signifies the purity of inner thoughts and deeds and it holds a jewel in each of its claws. The flag of Wales also sports a red dragon.

SOUTH SUDAN

Adopted in 2005, the flag of South Sudan is one of the newest in the world. It was adopted after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the second Sudanese Civil War. The flag is older than the country itself-South Sudan became an independent country in 2011. While it carries the pan-African colours, the blue in the flag symbolises the Nile river, the country's lifeline.

DENMARK

The flag of Denmark holds the record for being the oldest continuously-used national flag. A deep red with a white cross, the flag is believed to have its origins in the 14th century. When the Danes were about to lose the battle against the Estonian tribes in 1219, the flag is said to have miraculously fallen from the sky, filling the Danish troops with hope and courage. The Danes won the war, too.

BOTSWANA

A flag that asks for rain. The blue colour of the flag of Botswana, a semi-arid region in the Kalahari desert, is a prayer for rain. The colour also symbolises hope. The black and white stripes indicate racial harmony. It is one of the few African flags that dont use red, yellow or green, which most African nations use as part of Pan Africanism, a movement that aims to strengthen bonds between the African indigenous groups.

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Does Nigeria have a history of military dictatorships?

           Nigeria has been home to a number of ancient and indigenous kingdoms and states over the millennia. However, the modern state of Nigeria largely dates back to the British colonial rule that started in the 19th century; its present territory took shape with the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria in 1914.



          Nigeria became independent in 1960 and in 1963; the country adopted a republican constitution. The country also underwent military dictatorships; Nigerians witnessed bloodshed and violence by various groups. This continued until 1999; that was when a stable democracy came to power.   



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Why did the French launch Operation Serval?



















          The mystical place Timbuktu is very famous. The famous trading region is situated in modern day Mali. Mali was once part of the three great pre-colonial Sudanic empires: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.



          France seized control of Mali in the late 19th century and made it a part of French Sudan. In 1959, French Sudan joined with Senegal and became known as the Mali Federation, though later Senegal withdrew from the federation.



          An armed conflict broke out in northern Mali in 2012; Tuareg rebels took control of a territory called Azawad. The issue was worsened by the involvement of the military. The French military launched Operation Serval in this context.



          Within a month after its launch in January 2013, Malian and French forces recaptured most of the north.



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How did Botswana get its name?

















           Botswana is named after its dominant ethnic group, the Tswana. Botswana is Africa’s oldest and longest continuous multi-party democracy.



          The country held its first general elections based on the 1965 constitution that granted universal suffrage and it gained independence on 30 September 1966. Till then, Botswana was a British protectorate known as Bechuanaland.



         Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement became the first President following the elections. He was re-elected twice. The eleventh election was the most recent which was held on 24 October 2014. Though one of the poorest and least developed countries, Botswana was largely stable.



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Is Morocco the only monarchy in North Africa?

















          Africa is the homeland of many empires and kingdoms who practised powerful monarchical rule. Today Morocco is the only monarchy in North Africa; it is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. It is also the fifth largest economy in Africa.



         King Idris founded the first Moroccan state in 788 AD. Since then, the country has been ruled by a series of independent dynasties. Morocco reached the heights of glory under the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties. The Alaouite dynasty came to power in 1631 and rules to this day.



          Morocco was under French protection from 1912 to 1956. Sultan Mohammed became the king during this period. In 1961, he was succeeded by his son, Hassan II. He ruled for 38 years and played a prominent role in the search for peace in the Middle East. Ironically, he also ruthlessly suppressed domestic opposition.



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Which was the first sub-Saharan country to break free from colonial rule?















           In 1957, Ghana gained independence from its British rulers and became the first country to break free from colonial rule. Its economy has flourished since then. Ghana has become a major African power due to its economic prosperity and democratic political system.



          The first permanent state in modern day Ghana started in the 11th century. A home to many powerful kingdoms and empires, Ghana enjoyed the perks of stability and peace. The Kingdom of Ashanti was the most powerful among Ghana’s rulers. Gold attracted settlers to Ghana, and many countries colonized this area for the same. It was also a hub of the Atlantic slave trade in which many like the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French participated. In the 1900s, Ghana came to be known as the British Gold Coast.



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What is the story of Libya?















          Before the 1920s, we did not have a country called Libya. In its place, there were three historical regions- Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan which were ruled by the Ottomans. The Italians later colonized this region and unified them to form a single colony. Thus Libya was born.



         Libya got independence in 1951 under King Iris al-Sanusi. The king was overthrown in 1969 by a military coup and Colonel Gaddafi took charge of the country. He ruled for 42 long years till he was ousted by an armed rebellion in 2011. Gaddafi’s rule shattered the country and it has been divided into competing military and political factions since 2014.



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Why is it said that Egypt has a unique history?















           Egypt is a land of antiquity. The civilisations and rulers of Egypt were highly regarded around the world.



          The Nile river valley and delta were the home of the world’s earliest urban and literate societies. The Pharaohs ruled Egypt for almost three thousand years through a series of native dynasties. They also had brief periods of foreign rule in between.



         Europeans entered the scene in the later half of the 18th century. The British invaded and occupied Egypt in 1882, as they wanted control over the Suez Canal. The canal linked the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea and was an important part of sea routes. The country gained independence and took back the Canal in the 1950s.



         Hosni Mobarek was Egypt’s long-time president who was overthrown by a popular uprising in 2011. Though the country has had many democratic elections since then, the role of the military in the government remains strong.



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Who dominated Zimbabwe after its independence?















          Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980 and since then, veteran President Robert Mugabe dominated its political landscape for almost four decades.



          Mugabe is a controversial figure. He was praised for his role in the freedom of his country, but his government was accused of dictatorship and economic mismanagement. He was ousted by a coup in 2017 and Emerson Mnangagwa became the new president.



          The British ruled Zimbabwe for almost a hundred years before its independence. It started in the 1880s when Cecil Rhode established the British South Africa Company in Zimbabwe. According to archeological records, human settlements were present in Zimbabwe at least 100,000 years before British rule. The country was ruled by several kingdoms like the Kingdom of Mapungubwe and Kingdom of Mutapa.



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Is Mozambique a wealthy nation?















          Mozambique’s wealth lies in its natural resources. Unfortunately, it is still one of the poorest nations because of underdevelopment.



         Long ago, Mozambique was a Portuguese colony. For five hundred years, Portugal got minerals and agricultural products from the country. After years of exploitation, a guerrilla army called Frelimo fought for independence following which Mozambique was declared as a free country in 1975.



         After independence, Mozambique was torn apart by internal conflicts. Violence, disunity and natural calamities like drought weakened its economy.



         The conflict formally ended in 1992 and it has remained a fairly stable presidential republic after its first multiparty election.



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Why is Ethiopia special?















         Ethiopia was never colonized by anyone. In fact, it is the only African country which was never colonized. Italy occupied it twice, but they couldn’t establish themselves as rulers.



         Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country and the second most populated nation in Africa. It is one of the world’s oldest countries.



         Legends say that Manelik, the son of King Solomon ruled this place. Different emperors rued the country since then, even when the rest of Africa was controlled by other countries, the last emperor being Haile Selassie. He was overthrown in 1974 by a Soviet-backed military government.



         The 70s was a turbulent time for Ethiopia. The government was corrupt, living conditions miserable and strikes and mutinies regular.



         This was worsened by a severe drought and the inflow of refugees from Sudan. All these slowed down its economy.



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Why is South Africa a prominent country in the African continent?















          Remember Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa? He was jailed for 27 years because he fought for freedom. Before Mandela came to power, the country was ruled by a British minority government. Their rules strictly kept apart the two ethnic groups- the whites and the blacks.



         This system known as apartheid started in the 1950s; black people were forced to live in places called homelands with minimal opportunities for work and education. This created tensions. At first people started protesting peacefully; it later turned to violent riots and even massacres. After a lot of struggle and mass protests led by the African National Congress and Nelson Mandela, this practice came to an end in 1991.



         South Africa has rich mineral deposits. Diamonds and gold were discovered there which attracted European fortune hunters.



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Which country is known as ‘Africa in miniature’?













          Cameroon is noted for its geographical and cultural diversity. It is known as ‘Africa in miniature’ for the same reason. The Sao civilization flourished near Lake Chad in Cameroon and the southeastern rainforests were inhabited by the Baka hunter-gatherers.



          In the 1400s, the Portuguese sailed to the coast of Cameroon. These sailors traded ivory, rubber and slaves. Cameroon came under German rule in 1884; it became a colony known as Kamerun.



          Modern Cameroon took shape in 1961. By then, the British and French had taken control; they unified a British and a French colony to give birth to the new country. It was later renamed as the United Republic of Cameroon in 1972. After a second round of renaming in 1984, it was known as the Republic of Cameroon.



          The country was not free of internal tensions after its independence. There were constant conflicts between the English-speaking provinces and the French-speaking ones; it turned to a secessionist movement in 1990 and an insurgency in 2016.



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