Libya's Berbers struggle for the acknowledgement of their rights

According to the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), Libya's Berbers are significantly involved in the military offensives on Tripoli. "Many Berbers are prepared to take high risks after 42 years of suppression by the Gaddafi regime. They want to ensure that their language and fundamental human rights will finally be recognized," said the STP's expert on questions regarding Africa, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Tuesday.

The Berbers, who also call themselves Amazigh, have reason to hope that a new government will respect their rights, for the Libyan National Transitional Council does recognizes the importance of the non-Arab minority for the liberation of Libya. In spring 2100, the panel already approached the "Royal Institute of the Berber Culture" in Morocco, requesting information on appropriate measures to promote the language of the Amazigh within a democratic Libya in the future. Also, in the beginning of August 2011, leading members of the transitional council visited areas that are controlled by rebel Berbers ?" together with the President of the Amazigh World Congress, Belkacem Lounes, and his vice president, Khalid Zerrari.

"Although the war against the Gaddafi regime is not over yet, political springtime for the Amazigh in Libya has already begun," Delius reported. The first Amazigh TV-channel ?" "Inghmissen" ?" started broadcasting in May 2011 already, based on the Tamazigh-language, that both the Tuareg and the Amazigh share. In some of the liberated areas, schools have also started to teach in Tamazigh. Libya's state security arrested two young researchers of the "Royal Institute of the Berber Culture" in December 2010, because they were trying to investigate the situation of the Amazigh and their culture in Morocco. In Spring 2011, several Tuareg were also threatened or arrested by Libyan security officials, because they were committed to stand up for their rights.

"Libya's Berber and Tuareg people have learned from the experience made by Berbers in Algeria, where they were ignored and arabized after their country became independent in 1962," said Delius. "Though during the struggle for independence, the indigenous people were always promised that their culture would be respected in a free Algeria."

About ten percent of the Libyan population are Amazigh, mostly located in the west of the country. In the oil-rich desert regions of southwestern Libya, there are also around 10.000 Tuareg. The non-Arab indigenous inhabitants of northern Africa make up a significant part of the population mainly in Morocco and Algeria, but many Amazigh also live in Tunisia and western Egypt. They are all represented in the Amazigh World Congress.