1977 expulsion of Egyptians from Libya

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1977 expulsion of Egyptians from Libya
Date1 July 1977
LocationLibya
Motiveto "expel the ones plotting to seize Libyan oil fields"
PerpetratorLibya Libyan Arab Republic
Organized byMuammar Gaddafi
Outcome225,000 Egyptians expelled from Libya

The expulsion of Egyptians from Libya took place during heightened tensions between the two countries, when the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi accused Egypt of 'provoking a war' in order to seize Libyan oil fields. With this order, almost all the Egyptians who had lived in Libya were required to leave the country by 1 July 1977 or face arrest.

Background

In the 1970s, Gaddafi pursued Arab unity, resulting in the creation of the Federation of Arab Republics in 1972 with Egypt and Syria. However, the FAR only achieved symbolic gestures of unity despite initial ambitions for military consolidation.[1]

Gaddafi pushed for unity with Egypt, but Anwar Sadat's interest waned, and he developed personal animosity towards Gaddafi. Gaddafi aimed to eliminate Israel, hoping to leverage Libya's finances and Egypt's strength. The Yom Kippur War in 1973, initiated by Egypt and Syria without Libya's consultation, led to Sadat's negotiation with Israel for Sinai's return. Gaddafi criticized Sadat for limited war objectives and ceasefire, leading to strained relations.[2][3] Gaddafi then began to regularly expel migrant workers in order to put Sadat under pressure.[4]

Expulsion

Then in 1977, tensions reached their height, and as a result, Gaddafi forcefully expelled over 200,000 Egyptians from Libya, under the accusation that Egypt was supposedly attempting to seize Libyan oil fields.[5][6] They were given a deadline by 1 July 1977 to choose whether to leave, or face arrest.[7][8][9]

Aftermath

Gaddafi then initiated a full scale war against Egypt which resulted in the capture and destruction of Sallum.[10] Sadat then launched a counter offensive in an attempt to regain lost territory and to occupy parts of Libya. The war later culminated in a ceasefire with a status quo ante bellum.[11]

References

  1. ^ Howe, Marvine (7 August 1977). The Battle With Egypt May Have Won Him New Sympathy Among Arabs. The New York Times. p. E5.
  2. ^ Benjamin, Milton R. (1 August 1977). Arab vs. Arab. Newsweek. p. 29.
  3. ^ El Gohary, Mayada (16 February 2015). من السادات للسيسي.. نسور الشرق تدك معاقل الإرهاب في ليبيا ثأرًالشهداء الوطن.. اللواء حداد: قرار صائب وعقاب رادع للخسة.. سويلم: السيسي يثأر لكرامة مصر وليبيا [From Sadat to Sisi.. The Eagles of the East destroy strongholds of terrorism in Libya in revenge for the nation's martyrs.. Major General Haddad: A correct decision and a deterrent punishment for meanness.. Sweilem: Sisi avenges the dignity of Egypt and Libya]. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016.
  4. ^ Hüsken, Thomas (2018). Tribal politics in the borderland of Egypt and Libya. Palgrave series in African borderlands studies. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-319-92342-0.
  5. ^ "Egypt Libya War 1977". www.onwar.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  6. ^ Ali, Mostafa (23 August 2011). "Egypt celebrates Libyan revolution victory".
  7. ^ Mckenna, Amy (2011). The History of Northern Africa. Britannica Educational Publishing. ISBN 9781615303977.
  8. ^ "The Egypt-Libya Border War of 1977". historyguy.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  9. ^ AbdulHamid, Ashraf (3 August 2014). "بعد 37 عاماً.. هل يتكرر سيناريو تدخل مصر في ليبيا؟". www.alarabiya.com.
  10. ^ "«الدفاع العربي» تكشف كواليس حرب الأربعة أيام بين مصر وليبيا". www.aldefaaalarabi.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  11. ^ Lippman, Thomas (25 July 1977). "Egypt - Libya Clash: Little Impact on Arab - Israeli Struggle". WashingtonPost.
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