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1977 expulsion of Egyptians from Libya

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1977 expulsion of Egyptians from Libya
Date1 July 1977
LocationLibya
MotiveTo expel all Egyptians living in Libya
PerpetratorLibya Libyan Arab Republic
Organized byMuammar Gaddafi
Outcome225,000 Egyptians expelled from Libya

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

Background

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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, Sadat developed personal animosity towards Gaddafi. Gaddafi aimed to eliminate Israel, hoping to leverage Libya's finances and Egypt's strength in a potential conflict. However, The Yom Kippur War in 1973, initiated by Egypt and Syria without Libya's consultation, proved a turning point, Sadat's decision to negotiate and ratify a ceasefire agreement with Israel for the return of the Sinai Peninsula angered Gaddafi, Gaddafi saw the war objectives and the resistance movement as too limited, describing the resistance movement as "Non-existent" and that it has been finished off by the Arabs in collaboration with Israel,[2] Meanwhile, Sadat, also criticized and accused Gaddafi for subversive activities in Egypt, leading to strained relations.[3][4][5] Gaddafi then began to regularly expel migrant workers to put Sadat under pressure.[6]

Expulsion

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In 1977, tensions peaked, and as a result, Gaddafi forcefully expelled over 200,000 Egyptians from Libya, accusing Egypt of attempting to seize Libyan oil fields.[7][8] They were given a deadline of 1 July 1977 to choose whether to leave or face arrest.[9][10][11]

This expulsion, as a result, had a huge negative impact on the Libyan economy.[12]

Aftermath

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Gaddafi then initiated a full-scale war against Egypt, resulting in the capture and destruction of Sallum.[13] Sadat launched a counter-offensive in an attempt to regain lost territory and potentially occupy parts of Libya. The conflict ultimately reached a stalemate, with a ceasefire agreement that restored the pre-war borders.[14]

References

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  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. ^ Hirst, David (2020-04-17). "Gaddafi's brotherly censure - archive, 1973". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  3. ^ Benjamin, Milton R. (1 August 1977). Arab vs. Arab. Newsweek. p. 29.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Qaddafi Meets Sadat in Egypt In Endeavor to Settle Quarrel". The New York Times. 1974-08-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Egypt Libya War 1977". www.onwar.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  8. ^ Ali, Mostafa (23 August 2011). "Egypt celebrates Libyan revolution victory".
  9. ^ Mckenna, Amy (2011). The History of Northern Africa. Britannica Educational Publishing. ISBN 9781615303977.
  10. ^ "The Egypt-Libya Border War of 1977". historyguy.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  11. ^ AbdulHamid, Ashraf (3 August 2014). "بعد 37 عاماً.. هل يتكرر سيناريو تدخل مصر في ليبيا؟". www.alarabiya.com.
  12. ^ "Egypt-Libya: Prisoner Exchange". CIA. 25 August 1977. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  13. ^ ""الدفاع العربي" تكشف كواليس حرب الأربعة أيام بين مصر وليبيا". www.aldefaaalarabi.com. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  14. ^ Lippman, Thomas (25 July 1977). "Egypt - Libya Clash: Little Impact on Arab - Israeli Struggle". WashingtonPost.
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