Gaddafi Is Gone but One Year on Libya Looks Grim
February 17 was the first anniversary of the revolution that ousted Gaddafi. Libya is far from stable, with rampant violence and an economy crippled by corruption. Patrick Haimzadeh, a former French diplomat in Tripoli and the author of Inside Gaddafi’s Libya, spoke to Al Monitor’s Sophie Claudet.
On February 17, Libya celebrated the first anniversary of the revolution that ousted late Colonel Gaddafi. One year on, the country is far from stable: inter-militia violence is rampant, the interim government’s authority is increasingly challenged and the economy is crippled by mounting corruption. As a result, the much-expected transition to democracy is becoming a distant prospect. Patrick Haimzadeh, a former French diplomat in Tripoli from 2001 to 2004 and the author of Au cœur de la Libye de Kadhafi (Inside Gaddafi’s Libya), spoke to Al Monitor about possible scenarios for Libya’s reconstruction.
Al-Monitor You have visited Libya several times since Gaddafi was toppled. How would you describe the situation?
