Libya Tour
From March 10-18 we will be in Libya to examine the impact of the revolution, and more worryingly the recent armed clashes. Places on this tour are limited, and reserved primarily for people with a professional interest in foreign affairs. Security costs also mean that the price for this tour will be higher than normal. Please call us for further details and price.
Tour Overview
Armed youths under the control of the Misrata brigade patrol Tawergha, a town once inhabited by black Libyans who were forced to flee after the revolution.
The victory of Libya’s rebels over the last remnants of Gaddafi’s forces has been welcomed among western governments. At arms length NATO and its allies have managed to support a popular movement against an unsavoury leader, and keep the Arab world on side at the same time.
But recent events point to a deeply disturbing situation. Clashes between competing brigades threaten to undermine progress on a new constitutional settlement.
In just a few short months Libya has been turned into one of the most heavily armed countries in the world. Political leadership – at local or central level – is extremely weak. While there is a huge sense of optimism among ordinary people, nobody yet has the clear authority to promote a disarmament process or mark out a clear path to a new constitutional settlement.
This is not only a challenge for the Libyans but also the Western and Arab sponsors of the revolution. Who can they engage with to help the country build a new state?
Our tour explores the fall out from the conflict and asks how best can a peaceful and durable political settlement can be achieved.
Day 1 Gaddafi’s Libya + Ordinary Needs
Orientation + Exploring the capital.
Lunch in city centre
Tripoli Neighbourhood
We hear their account of the revolution and the liberation in late August. Crucially we tackle people’s immediate needs.
We meet local family, local judge, imam, and a community council as well as some of the “Katibas” or military units to assess all these concerns.
Dinner with International Officials
Overnight in Tripoli.
Day 2 Tripoli and Misrata (and Leptis Magna)
Visits to Gaddafi’s palaces, facilities, and bunkers to give insight into how the family lived
(Stop by Leptis Magna – Septinius Severus’s City followed by Lunch)
Misrata provides significant insight into obstacles that confront the country as it tries to rebuild itself after the war.
The Misrata Brigade – What it wants now
Weapons collected from a Tripoli suburb. The huge number of weapons leftover from the revolution remains one of the biggest obstacles to long term stability.
Misrata is controlled by at least four main militia groups and is dominated by three large family groupings. Its fighters were at the forefront of fighting – both in Tripoli, locally and most recently Sirte. They will want a significant say in any creation of government.
- Brief tour of city with brigade members – description of conflict in the city.
- Meetings with various military commanders and leading families.
- A look at how people are trying to rebuild their lives.
Overnight in Misrata
Day 3 Misrata and Tawergha
While the substantial majority of Libyans appear to support the revolution, the treatment of groups suspected to be sympathetic to Colonel Gadaffi is arbitrary.
Minority groups are also being targeted. To the south of Misrata, lies Tawergha a town of some 35,000 people who are the descendents of black slaves. The entire population has fled, and many of them have been picked up off the streets of Tripoli and imprisoned.
- Briefing on prisons
Visit to Tawergha in the afternoon.
Overnight in Tripoli
Day 4 Tripoli and Mellita Oil Works
Day trip to understand oil sector.
Days 5+6 + 7 Tripoli for Government and International briefings
Briefings and visits with the following:
- Tripoli Brigade – its take on the security situation.
- UNHCR
- Tripoli’s NTC leadership – an assessment of immediate needs.
- Ministry of Finance – Oil industry and recovery of overseas assets, New Media –plus a visit NTC’s own paper plus more independent ones.
- Transitional Finance Initiative on banking and financial needs and situation.
- Briefing with major international think tank.
- Meeting with European diplomats trying to support the transition process.
Day 8
Final debriefings and departures for airport.
Contact Us for further details about the trip and price.
