King Idris (right) and UN commissioner Adriaan Pelt who oversaw Libya's transition to independence in 1951
For the first time in 42 years, on Saturday December 24, Libya is celebrating the anniversary of its independence gained 60 years ago, on December 24, 1951, The united Libyan Kingdom was formed under then King Idris.
For most of its history, Libya has been subjected to varying degrees of foreign control, from Europe, Asia, and Africa, but the modern history of independent Libya began in 1951.
Independence had ceased being celebrated in 1969 when the Gaddafi came to power in a coup. Since then, only the date of independence still remained in the country's history, the former dictatorial regime only allowed Libyans to celebrate the date of the coup, on September 1 each year.
Celebrations are planned in Tripoli, and other cities. They include a lunch for several thousand people in Tripoli to be served on tables which organisers say could stretch for 2km along Tripoli's seafront.
The day's main event however, will be a march from Martyrs Square (formerly Green Square) to the country's national museum - the former Royal Palace – in the afternoon with the participation of members of Libya's interim government, senior members of the National Transitional Council, headed by chairman Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, interim prime minister Abdurrahim el-Keeb, and a number of international dignitaries. Speeches from the country's leaders will follow.
This will be a revival of a most important stage in Libya's history, that many Libyans had perhaps been unaware of because its significance was erased from the calendar by the former regime and was not celebrated during the four decades of the Gaddafi rule.
In the early post-war period, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica remained under British administration, while the French controlled Fezzan. In 1944, Idris returned from exile in Cairo but declined to resume permanent residence in Cyrenaica until the removal in 1947 of some aspects of foreign control.
Under the terms of the 1947 peace treaty with the Allies, Italy, which hoped to maintain the colony of Tripolitania, (and France, which wanted the Fezzan), relinquished all claims to Libya. Libya so remained united.
On November 21, 1949 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent before January 1, 1952. Idris represented Libya in the subsequent UN negotiations. The transition to independence was overseen by the UN commissioner Adriaan Pelt.
Then on December 24. 1951, Libya declared its independence with representatives from Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan declaring a union with the country being called the United Kingdom of Libya, and Idris al-Senussi being offered the crown.
In accordance with the constitution the new country had a federal government with the three states of Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan having autonomy. The kingdom also had three capital cities: Tripoli, Benghazi and Bayda. Two years after independence, on March 28, 1953, Libya joined the Arab League.
When Libya declared its independence it was the first country to achieve independence through the United Nations and one of the first former European possessions in Africa to gain independence. The Kingdom of Libya was proclaimed a constitutional and a hereditary monarchy in October 1951, and the federal monarchy of Libya was headed by King Idris as chief of state, with succession to his designated heirs. Substantial political power resided with the king.
The executive arm of the government consisted of a prime minister and Council of Ministers designated by the king but also responsible to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of a bicameral legislature. The Senate, or upper house, consisted of eight representatives from each of the three provinces.
Half of the senators were nominated by the king, who also had the right to veto legislation and to dissolve the lower house. Local autonomy in the provinces was exercised through provincial governments and legislatures. Benghazi and Tripoli served alternately as the national capital.
During this one day, the importance of December 24, will be revived and Libyans will be able to savour this celebration.
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