No Result
View All Result
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Cyrenaica federalists declare self government on 64th anniversary of Emirate of Cyrenaica independence

byMichel Cousins
June 2, 2013
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Cyrenaica federalists declare self government on 64th anniversary of Emirate of Cyrenaica independence

ProclamationCyrenaica_1

By Ahmed Ruhayam.

[/subscribelocker][subscribelocker][/subscribelocker] Crowds at the Marj rally commemorating the 64th anniversary of the proclamation of independence by the Emirate of Cyrenaic
Benghazi, 1 June 2013:

Several thousand Cyrenaican supporters of federalism attended a major rally in Marj today at which Sheikh . . .[restrict]Ahmed Zubair Senussi, head of the Cyrenaica Transitional Council, declared Cyrenaican self-government. “Cyrenaica is a federal territory within the framework of the Libyan state and as of this day June 01 2013 will start to run its own affairs,” he declared at the event, designed to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the 1949 declaration of independence by the Emirate of Cyrenaica.

“Cyrenaica will activate Libya’s 1951 constitution, establish a Senate and Congress to form Cyrenaica’s Parliament, as well as a regional Government,” Zubair announced. He also called for the formation of a defense force to protect Cyrenaica.

In addition, he demanded that the General National Congress transfer funding for Cyrenaica to the Benghazi branch of the Central Bank as well as allocate budgets for Cyrenaican youth development and employment.

RELATED POSTS

UAE Civil Aviation delegation visits Benghazi’s Benina Airport

France’s Géant Hypermarket opens second branch in Airport Road, Benghazi

There were no bombings and assassinations in the east of the country and no forest fires in the Green Mountains while the NTC was based in Benghazi, he said. These only started after the move to Tripoli. He accused unnamed political forces based in the capital of targeting Cyrenaica because it did not follow their agendas.

According to Moammar Al-Arafi, in charge of the media committee for today’s rally, at least 6,700 people attended. There is no independent confirmation of the figure.

They did so, Arafi told the Libya Herald, in response to recent developments in western Libya – specifically the manner in which the Political Isolation Law was passed and the present uncertain political outlook for the country.

Support for federalism has steadily grown in eastern Libya over the past year as the government has struggled to cope with security and the public has become ever more impatient at the lack of political and economic progress.

Last month, senior a senior Cyrenaican figure closely linked to Zubair told the Libya Herald that because of the growing chaos in the country and the inability of the government to take decisive action, Cyrenaica would declare autonomy and get on with running itself, while awaiting the rest of the country to pull itself together.

Two weeks ago, 3,000 Cyrenaican leaders and community representatives met and decided to proclaim regional autonomy on 1 June 2013.

In his speech today, Zubair refered to the concerns about security in Tripoli and elsewhere. “The people of Cyrenaica will not wait for hostilities in Tripoli and Fezzan to end,” he said. In a reference to the Political Isolation Law, he also rejected any law passed at gunpoint.

He also attacked Congress for dismissing demands for federalism. “We asked the General National Congress officially to hold a referendum on federalism; they ignored our requests.”

Sheikh Ahmed Zubair Al-Senussi greeted by participants at today’s rally

Today’s rally got underway at 10.30 this morning when people started gathering in Marj. At around noon, Zubair arrived to open the event which began with a recitation from the Holy Quran and the National Anthem.  There followed remarks by Yousef Ali, head of Marj’s council of elders.

The proclamation of self government by Zubair as head of the Cyrenaica Council formed in March last year included messages directed at the international community. The Council’s respected the rights of women and children, he said, praising the important role of women in Libya’s history and asserting that they would continue to play a major role in the country. Cyrenaica would also also focus on collecting in weapons and fighting corruption and terrorism.

“Federalism was attacked furiously by the media and some respected political leaders when Cyrenaica first expressed its desire for a federal state,” said Faraj el-Kezza, General Secretary for the Democratic Union Party who attended the ceremony. But views were changing, he stated.

A recent national survey conducted by the University of Benghazi

Research and Consulting Centre, sponsored by the GNC and the government, showed contradictory views, he said.

“Although the survey shows that only eight percent of Libyans want a federal state, the survey also shows that 47 percent are in favour of limited local legislative and executive powers. Also, 36 percent are in favour of extensive local legislative powers and 48 percent in favor of extensive local executive powers. By any definition, this says that the Libyan people are seeking a federal state.”

El-Kezza added:  “The Libyan people want to run their lives, which means managing their futures, planning and developing their regions and economies.”

Whether today’s event is just another declaration or a more significant departure remains to be seen.

The 1 June 1949 declaration of independence by Cyrenaica followed negotiations by the Emir, Idris Al-Senussi, later King Idris, and the British military forces which had run the province after expelling the Italian colonial authorities in 1943. In fact, Cyrenaica was not fully “independent” and the British continued to control aspects of its government.  The Emirate then joined with British-administered Tripolitania and French-administered Fezzan to form the fully independent Kingdom of Libya in 1951.

1950 Stamp of Cyrenaica
[/restrict]

Tags: BenghazifeaturedfederalismLibyaMarjSheikh Ahmed Zubair Al Senussi

Related Posts

Interior Ministry’s Diplomatic Missions Protection personnel receiving training in Ukraine
Libya

The Interior Ministry had spent LD 50 billion in 13 years with no result: Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi

June 17, 2025
Interior Ministry’s Diplomatic Missions Protection personnel receiving training in Ukraine
Libya

Nearly 1 million crimes reported to police stations – confirms urgent need to dissolve all parallel security agencies / militias

June 16, 2025
UNSMIL: Warring parties invited to begin negotiations on 29 September
Libya

Libyan Advisory Committee calls on Libyan stakeholders to work with UNSMIL to build unified, sovereign, and democratic Libya 

June 16, 2025
Presidency Council objects to holding of south reconciliation event in Italy
Libya

All recently clashing state and militia forces and their military vehicles will return to their barracks as of yesterday evening

June 12, 2025
Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

Criminal proceedings initiated against 141 members of the Central Security Agency and Stability Support Apparatus, and security units associated with them

June 10, 2025
UNSMIL: Warring parties invited to begin negotiations on 29 September
Libya

UNSMIL condemns militia and government security forces clashes

June 10, 2025
Next Post
Zeidan intervention stops Libyan Airlines’ strike

Zeidan intervention stops Libyan Airlines' strike

Registration for municipal elections this month

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Presidency Council objects to holding of south reconciliation event in Italy

    All recently clashing state and militia forces and their military vehicles will return to their barracks as of yesterday evening

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Construction work progressing at Benghazi’s new Tika airport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya’s economic reality: limited resources, liquidity challenges, inflation, and need for monetary base restructuring – Husni Bey

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Aldabaiba stresses need to complete Airport Road works in full in conjunction with imminent opening of Tripoli International Airport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya Energy Conference, London, 2 July

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

The Interior Ministry had spent LD 50 billion in 13 years with no result: Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi

Nearly 1 million crimes reported to police stations – confirms urgent need to dissolve all parallel security agencies / militias

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.