Moussa Ibrahim
Encyclopedia
Moussa Ibrahim is a Libya
n political figure, serving as Libyan Minister of Information and the official spokesman for Muammar Gaddafi
as of March 2011. He came to general international attention during the 2011 Libyan civil war
.
tribe. He has a German wife and a young son, and studied politics at the University of Exeter
in the early 2000s. He worked on a PhD in media arts at Royal Holloway, University of London
, completing his final exam in May 2010—although he has not formally received his doctorate as supervisors are awaiting a small number of required amendments to his thesis. One of Ibrahim's lecturers at the University of Exeter, Dr Larbi Sadiki, described him as an engaging, friendly but serious student—"a nice guy but with a short fuse".
He told Sky News
: "I lived in London for 15 years. I know every street in London. I know how decent the British people are."
On 19 August 2011, his brother was allegedly killed by an "Apache helicopter" in Zawiya.
During the Battle of Tripoli
, he called for a ceasefire and blamed NATO and the West for the situation, and said that the conflicting parties should sit down and negotiate, although he also said that thousands of professional soldiers were ready to defend Tripoli against rebel forces staging an uprising within the capital, as well those advancing towards the city from Zawiya.
It was incorrectly reported on 29 September 2011 that Ibrahim had been captured near Sirte
by NTC
fighters. No independent confirmation was forthcoming, and the report was denied by a pro-Gaddafi TV channel. Later that day a spokesman for the Misrata military council, Adel Ibrahim, told AFP
"We cannot confirm he was arrested", and two days later an NTC commander admitted they had not captured him.
On 20 October 2011, Reuters reported that Ibrahim had been captured near Sirte
, according to a Libyan transitional forces commander; however, this was again proven to be untrue. On 22 October 2011, he was again reportedly captured for a third time, along with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, near Bani Walid
. This however is also untrue, as Saif was not captured until the 19th of November near the town of Obari. The current fate of Moussa Ibrahim is unknown.
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....
n political figure, serving as Libyan Minister of Information and the official spokesman for Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
as of March 2011. He came to general international attention during the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
.
Biography
Ibrahim was born in 1974 into Gaddafi's QadhadhfaQadhadhfa
The Qadhadhfa are a minor Arab or Arabized Berber tribe of the Sirte region in present-day northwestern Libya.They are now mostly centered at Sabha....
tribe. He has a German wife and a young son, and studied politics at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
in the early 2000s. He worked on a PhD in media arts at Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
, completing his final exam in May 2010—although he has not formally received his doctorate as supervisors are awaiting a small number of required amendments to his thesis. One of Ibrahim's lecturers at the University of Exeter, Dr Larbi Sadiki, described him as an engaging, friendly but serious student—"a nice guy but with a short fuse".
He told Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
: "I lived in London for 15 years. I know every street in London. I know how decent the British people are."
On 19 August 2011, his brother was allegedly killed by an "Apache helicopter" in Zawiya.
During the Battle of Tripoli
Battle of Tripoli (2011)
The Battle of Tripoli was a military confrontation in Tripoli, Libya, between loyalists of Muammar Gaddafi, the longtime leader of Libya, and the National Transitional Council, which was attempting to overthrow Gaddafi and take control of the capital...
, he called for a ceasefire and blamed NATO and the West for the situation, and said that the conflicting parties should sit down and negotiate, although he also said that thousands of professional soldiers were ready to defend Tripoli against rebel forces staging an uprising within the capital, as well those advancing towards the city from Zawiya.
It was incorrectly reported on 29 September 2011 that Ibrahim had been captured near Sirte
Sirte
Sirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast...
by NTC
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
fighters. No independent confirmation was forthcoming, and the report was denied by a pro-Gaddafi TV channel. Later that day a spokesman for the Misrata military council, Adel Ibrahim, told AFP
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
"We cannot confirm he was arrested", and two days later an NTC commander admitted they had not captured him.
On 20 October 2011, Reuters reported that Ibrahim had been captured near Sirte
Sirte
Sirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast...
, according to a Libyan transitional forces commander; however, this was again proven to be untrue. On 22 October 2011, he was again reportedly captured for a third time, along with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, near Bani Walid
Bani Walid
Bani Walid or Ben Walid, prior to 2007, was one of the districts of Libya. In the 2007 administrative reorganization the territory formerly in Bani Walid District was transferred to Misrata District.Bani Walid bordered the following districts:...
. This however is also untrue, as Saif was not captured until the 19th of November near the town of Obari. The current fate of Moussa Ibrahim is unknown.
See also
- Moussa Koussa, Libyan minister for foreign affairs, March 2009 to March 2011
External links
- Moussa Ibrahim's YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/DrMoussaIbrahim?ob=5#p/u
- Interview video: CNN: Gadhafi spokesman on drug claim– Anderson CooperAnderson CooperAnderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories...
interviews Moussa Ibrahim about Gaddafi's claim that hallucinogens are being forced on the protesters for the unrest. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011. - Video of Moussa Ibrahim: "Libyan government reacts to Moussa Koussa's defection- video- Gaddafi spokesman Mussa Ibrahim plays down foreign minister's decision, claiming that he was a 'very ill person' who had taken time off to rest", guardian.co.uk, 31 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011. (See also the article Moussa Koussa.)