🇱🇾 Libya: From Arab Spring to failed state? | UpFront

A political solution appears to remain out of reach for Libya seven years after Muammar Gaddafi's toppling. The country is grappling with civil war, humanitarian crises and the threat from ISIL, leading some to question the 2011 foreign intervention that removed Gaddafi from power.
"It [was] a huge mistake and I think both Libyans and the world is paying for it", says Hafed Al-Ghwell, a columnist at Arab News and former senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
"It was a civil war between two sides of Libya in 2011. There [was], and still [is], significant tribal presence that is in support of Gaddafi and ... still loyal to him," he says. "NATO and Europe intervened on behalf of one side against another."
Mustafa Abushagur, former deputy prime minister of the post-Gaddafi government, disagrees.
"What is going on today is really [that] we are paying for the legacy of the regime," he says. "If the intervention had not happened, Libyans could have been killed, thousands by thousands by the hands of Gaddafi."
"When Gaddafi was toppled, there [were] no institutions in the country to be able to carry on," says Abushagur.
In this week’s Arena, Hafed Al Ghwell and Mustafa Abushagur debate the pros and cons of today’s Libya.
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[@alwaysballing5268]

I love the guy who hosts this show, he always gets right down to the point.. Great journalist

[@johnbarlow7292]

I dont i think he puts his feels first .where he is from .

[@rakeshstha7]

Mustafa seems not to have any idea on what is going on in Libya

[@jithinprimz2972]

My take on libia:No matter how bad things are it can always get worse

[@gafariojo-oniyun3330]

Did Mustafa know that under the Gaddafi Libya is one of the richest country in Africa and the highest standard of living

[@truthnumb972]

He knows full well lol

[@tommuller3159]

Did you know that each Country in europe is richer under a Democracy?

[@reallyspingebillboxpants]

@@tommuller3159 what an absolutely brain dead comparison, obviously Libya's colonizers would be richer, regardless of if Libya was democratic. You probably want Libya to become the next Iraq

[@nowlive7054]

Mustafa you're very wrong libiya was far good and safe under Gaddafi.

[@shekukamara9482]

He was one of the corrupts leader by then that's why Ghadaffi chased him out of the country.

[@NB-ei4vr]

True Mustafa was the most corrupt

[@Ammarakram674]

Gaddafi was great

[@areuaware6842]

It was never an "Arab Spring" It was an American Spring...

[@areuaware6842]

True enough the US government serves the false god of Israel and does their bidding but do so voluntarily so they are blood guilty.

[@airrodgers7277]

by your definition the arab league is also serving the false god of Israel you can't just blame everything on america when arab leader was the one that wanted nato to take out Gaddafi.;. you are blaming everything on america but neglect to point a finger at your own leaders...

[@mhd2680]

@@airrodgers7277 Yes there are the gulf Arab leaders who Helped USA financially funding nato operation to overthrow Gaddafi

[@mhd2680]

@Noni Who I am Libyan And I saw demonstrations took place in favor of Gaddafi in Tripoli

[@basharspecial8040]

@@mhd2680 where was your eyes when people came out against Gaddafi?

[@angelicadjanie1330]

Host "tell your fellow Libyans what is better in Libya today " Guest: ..." they are starting to enjoy some of their freedoms......starting did he say ? Some ? .......he went on ....yes....I was kidnapped. .... Me....freedom in kidnap.. interesting indeed

[@georgianabortanoiu3791]

😂😂😂😂😂 who wants some more Us freedom:DDDD

[@proton3362]

Mustafa is clueless he is not well versed with the affairs of Libya.

[@abrahamfoday-kai2644]

Stupid thing. RIP hero Gadaffi

[@aibabreaking]

Mustafa has said opposite about what is going on in Libya! Remember, he was former Gaddafi deputy prime minister! He said that for purpose!

[@ItssMrT]

im from Libya and i stand for what the revolution of 17.02.2011 stands for . if not for the foreign interventions , greed , we would have had a free democratic country by now , dont blame the revolution for the corruption that happened in Qaddafi system and still happening now .

[@alijafari5494]

RamyZIAD i hope you are enjoying democracy now.

[@mhd2680]

What loads of trash I am Libyan And I prefer Gaddafi

[@kago500]

Mehdi was being unfair to Hafid by constantly interrupting him. He clearly doesn't like what he has to say.

[@ijot87]

Pity on libya citizen so how your life now

[@FoysalChowdhuryGoni]

1911 years and 2011 years 100 years history

[@omarsherzai9944]

Mustafa u are really wrong .

[@bonniemagpie9960]

Is somebody going to be held accountable for Gaddafi 's murder ? It was sheer brutality and nothing lawful about it.

[@sulamanfarsi6268]

I am very fine of you sir

[@MsFreethepeople]

I really wish more journalist would speak to the common people of Libya and get their perspective. I bet its a whole lot different from both of these men's "cushy" lifestyle.

[@mhd2680]

I am Libyan

[@mhd2680]

There are things which are exaggerated here

[@at9048]

MH style of journalism is 👌👌👌👌

[@tomgatluak2227]

Mustafa he is crazy he mean freedom it.s dashe

[@osamael-shatawi514]

Qatar one of the reasons

[@abdikarinyusufosman4074]

Dictators always destroy their people and the country. Welcome to the party.

[@NB-ei4vr]

You don't know what you're talking about

[@shekukamara9482]

These former deputy prime minister he was once a corrupts leader in Libya that's why Ghadaffi chased him out of the country.

[@dinoskydinerlin9453]

Mustafa is rich that's y

[@PissMenn]

USA again and again

[@davegoldfarb]

freedom=blood

[@tommuller3159]

blaming the USA for giving the People the freedom to decide to be peaceful or torturing their fellow Citizen. ironic. Always blaming others when you just could just behave rightful and solve it yourself. The only one to blame are the lybian People.

[@alphaville257]

This dude dont know wat is going on in libya

[@AbdulMajid-bc6xf]

Why are they still talking about the past why not put on a name United lebia front to be looked after themselves in a new election # no 3rd party

[@TheKeithvidz]

ONE of Barac's crimes.

[@rbij9082]

Haftaar is wors dan kadaffi

[@JoseMendoza-wk8dc]

SAIF FOR PRESIDENT! MAKE LIBYA GREAT AGAIN!

[@anisalial-maghrabi3215]

Saif al gaddafi 😅

[@shakeelmohideen7172]

True Gaddafi..I still in control.. Libya should be well off... Gaddafi regime.. had to replaced.. again by the West.. because he wasn't leaving the nest so that they can share the eggs...

[@anwarmamun2020]

You cannot see a dramatic change after 40 years of Ghaddafi's oppression. He didn't build institutions, but his cult. The people are now free, they will make a free society in the future but will go through a great hardship to achieve that. That's the price of freedom..it's not cheap!

[@OAlexable]

Smdh, their economy was great look at what is happening now.

[@eshmelkamara3769]

All of you were the problem..this is sad because you will not be remember history...

[@banglamemes4637]

Greedy Mustafa

[@semeona.k2839]

Al Jazeera should take the blame for Lybia