Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, commonly known as Colonel Gaddafi, was born in 1942 near Sirte, in what was then Italian-occupied Libya. He came from a poor, nomadic Bedouin family that lived in the desert region of western Libya. Gaddafi studied at a military academy in Benghazi and was deeply influenced by Arab nationalist ideologies, particularly those of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser.
At the age of 27, Gaddafi seized power in a bloodless military coup on September 1, 1969, toppling King Idris I. After assuming control, he declared Libya a republic and began to reshape the country’s government and societal systems with a mix of Arab nationalism, socialism, and Islamic principles. Officially, he served as the de facto leader of Libya from 1969 until his death in 2011.
Although Gaddafi held various official titles, he was most commonly referred to as "Brother Leader" or simply "Colonel Gaddafi." He governed first as Prime Minister of the Libyan Arab Republic (1969–1977), and later transitioned to ruling through what he termed a "Jamahiriya" (state of the masses), a form of direct democracy based on his political philosophy outlined in the Green Book.
Gaddafi retained tight control over Libya’s vast oil wealth and used state revenues to implement ambitious social programs, including free education and healthcare, which improved literacy and life expectancy. However, his leadership was also marked by authoritarianism, limited political freedom, and the suppression of dissent. Over the course of his rule, Gaddafi became known as Africa’s and the Arab world’s longest-ruling, non-royal leader.
Gaddafi's foreign policy often placed him at odds with Western nations. In 1986, U.S. President Ronald Reagan referred to Gaddafi as a "mad dog," reflecting the deeply strained relations at the time. Gaddafi’s government was widely accused of supporting international terrorism, including providing financial and logistical support to various militant groups.
Most notably, Libya was implicated in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which claimed 270 lives. After years of denial, Libya formally accepted responsibility in 2003 and agreed to compensate victims’ families, though Gaddafi himself never personally admitted fault.
| Birth Date: | 7 Jun, 1942 |
| Age: | 77 yrs |
| Occupations: | Politician Writer Military officer |
| Citizenship: | Libya |
| Birth Place: | Qasr Abu Hadi |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Libyan revolutionary, politician and political theorist |
| Spouse: | Fethiye Nuri al-Khaled[1969-1970] Safia Farkash[1970-2011] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 200 billion |
