As Syria's regime faces turmoil, a warning arises against allowing a power vacuum similar to Libya's descent into chaos post-Gaddafi. The article reflects on how initial hopes for democracy in Libya quickly turned to disaster, with militia violence and extremist groups exploiting the situation. Despite Western powers initially supporting the uprising, their failure to create a sustainable plan led to instability and suffering. The author, Libya's first female foreign minister, recounts the ensuing humanitarian crises, the displacement of people, and the destruction of the nation’s heritage, emphasizing the need for vigilance to prevent history from repeating itself in Syria.
When the revolution began, leaders such as Barack Obama, France's Nicolas Sarkozy and Britain's David Cameron, along with Nato, were quick to offer support and present themselves as champions of the Libyan people.
The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme initiated in late 2011 was poorly executed. Instead of fostering stability, it further destabilised Libya, sparking attacks on civilians abroad.
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