An old new Flag for Libya

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It was never a stated aim, but one of the things the anti-Gaddafi fighters in Libya wanted was a new flag – and this week, they got it.

During a moment they relished with pride, leaders of the National Transitional Council watched as the new flag was hoisted at a historic ceremony at the United Nations in New York.

The problem with the flag is that it is actually not new – or rather it is both old and new. The flag hoisted at the UN is identical with the one introduced in 1951, at the time the country was called the Kingdom of Libya.

When young Gaddafi ceased power in 1977, he changed it, opting for an all-green colour, and renamed the country Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The all-green flag, a symbol of Gaddafi’s rule is still cherished by the Libyan populace who remain loyal to the deposed leader.

The old new flag spawns the questions: is this a new Libya, or just the old Libya passing for a new one?

Before the flag-raising ceremony, more governments around the world now announced their recognition of the NTC as Libya’s legitimate government, rendering Muamar Gaddafi more and more irrelevant.

But Gaddafi is not one who likes to be upstaged.

So while the flag-raising ceremony was going on at the United Nations, Gaddafi released a recorded audio message played by a Syrian broadcaster. In it, he derided the former rebels, and said NATO, which provided air-power for their campaign will not always be there to protect them.

Gaddafi’s obvious aim was to taunt the NTC and to give the impression that he is not to be ignore yet.

Since the uprising against his government started started in February, Gaddafi has proved time and again that he lives comfortably in a state of denial. Some say he is hopelessly delusion, others say he is would have to be a smart fellow to rule Libya for more than four decades.

Either way, he is finished, and in the words or the NTC leadership, it is only a matter of time before he is either captured or killed.

It is not all rosy for the NTC either – they have blood on their hands and have been accused of human rights abuses.

And then there is the unspeakable cost of removing Gaddafi – thousands of people killed and more maimed for life.

Crowds on the streets of Tripoli celebrating the end of Gaddafi’s rule certainly conceal the injuries of many – injuries both physical and emotional.

It believed that even harder days are ahead for Libya, before the full painful price of freedom is paid.

- Phillip Nyakpo, Editor