Mahmud al-Muntasir
Encyclopedia
Mahmud al-Muntasir was the first Prime minister of Libya
from 29 March 1951 to 19 February 1954, and his second term was from 20 January 1964 to 20 March 1965. He was also the Minister of foreign affairs from 29 March 1951 to 19 February 1954.
, whom its ancestor the Kuwafi tribe from Misrata.
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
from 29 March 1951 to 19 February 1954, and his second term was from 20 January 1964 to 20 March 1965. He was also the Minister of foreign affairs from 29 March 1951 to 19 February 1954.
Family background
Mahmud al-Muntasir was a descendant of the al-Muntasir family, an old family from TripoliTripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, whom its ancestor the Kuwafi tribe from Misrata.
Before Independence
- During the Italian occupation of LibyaLibyaLibya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, al-Muntasir had presumably won the trust of Italians. After the political change in 1969, many Libyans regarded al-Muntasir as a puppet. This is far from being fair since al-Muntasir, in 1930s, had no foresight about the future telling him that the Italians would be expelled. - On 25 November 1950, members of the "National Association" has met for the first time with the goal of writing the Libyan Constitution. Al-Muntasir, then, was one of the delegates from TripolitaniaTripolitaniaTripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
. On March 1951, he was assigned to form this province’s government, and by the end of month, he was assigned to form the provisional federal government of LibyaLibyaLibya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
Early Years of Independence
- On 24 December 1951, King Idris I of LibyaIdris I of LibyaIdris, GBE , , was the first and only king of Libya, reigning from 1951 to 1969, and the Chief of the Senussi Muslim order.- Early life :...
declared its independence, and al-Muntasir became the prime minister of independent Libya. - One the first major challenges al-Muntasir has met was the situation of foreign military bases in Libya. To strengthen his position at negotiations with Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he first asked help from EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, then under King Farouk. The terms of the Egyptian government were hardly to be accepted, they offered only one million pounds, and demanded that this aid must be supervised by Egyptians, and demanded also the ceding Jaghbub oasis to them. Meanwhile, the British offered 2.75 sterling pounds as a price for the bases at Libya to be remained, so al-Muntasir, of course, accepted the British offer. - One of most controversial decisions of al-Muntasir was dissolving the political parties in Libya, and expatriating the famous political leader Bashir es Sadawi.
- Al-Muntasir resigned from office in 15 February 1954, then, he was appointed as the Libyan ambassador in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The Second Cabinet
- On January 1964, King Idris recalled al-Muntasir to form a new cabinet. At that time, troubles were not very far. In 22 February 1964, President Gamal Abdul Nasser of EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
made a speech in his country saying that:" … [the foreign military] bases existing in LibyaLibyaLibya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
…are a danger to the whole ArabArabArab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
nation..". This speech, accompanied with anti-Libyan propaganda in the Egyptian media, agitated the Libyan people, so al-Muntasir decided to commence the negotiations of evacuation with Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Hussein MaziqHussein MaziqHussein Yousef Maziq a Libyan politician was Prime Minister of Libya from 20 March 1965 to 2 July 1967. He was one of the most important men in the Kingdom era of Libya.-Family background:...
, his foreign minister, was assigned to run the negotiations. Unexpectedly, when Maziq was attending an Arab summit in CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
the same year, President Nasser told him, after an American pressure on Nasser, not to be in a rush to eject the American forces from LibyaLibyaLibya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. This meant actually suspension of the evacuation's negotiations. Maziq told the story of this meeting while defending himself at the Libyan People's Court in 1970. - Al-Muntasir resigned in March 1965 for health reasons, then, he was appointed as the chief of royal bureau.