Muammar Gaddafi was born in 1942 in a tent in the desert near Sirte, Libya. He came to power in a bloodless coup in 1969, overthrowing King Idris. Gaddafi ruled Libya for 42 years until he was overthrown in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings. During his rule, Gaddafi was known for his eccentric personality and controversial policies. He promoted pan-Africanism, nationalized the country’s oil industry, and implemented socialist policies. However, he was also accused of suppressing political opposition, human rights abuses, and supporting terrorism. Gaddafi’s foreign policy was also controversial. He supported various African liberation movements and provided financial and military aid to groups like the IRA and the PLO. However, he also had a tense relationship with the West and was accused of orchestrating terrorist attacks, including the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Gaddafi’s downfall came in 2011 when protests erupted against his autocratic rule. NATO intervened in the conflict, and Gaddafi was captured and killed by rebel forces in October of that year.
