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Omar al-Mukhtar عُمَر الْمُخْتَار | |
|---|---|
 Asad Al-Sahra (أسد الصحراء) or "Lion of the Desert" | |
| Ruler of Zawiyat Ayn Kalk | |
| In office 1896–1902 | |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Ruler of Zawiyat Luqsur | |
| In office 1902–1911[1] | |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| Leader of Senussi Tribal Military | |
| In office 24 April 1923 – 16 September 1931[2] | |
| Preceded by | Idris Al-Senussi |
| Succeeded by | Yusuf Borahil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1858-08-20)20 August 1858 |
| Died | 16 September 1931(1931-09-16) (aged 73) |
| Resting place | Suluq |
| Nationality | Ottoman, Libyan |
| Children | Muhammad |
| Parent(s) | Al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad (father) Aisha bint Muharib (mother) |
| Occupation | Ruler of SenussiZawiyas |
| Known for | LeadingArab nativeresistance toItalian colonization of Ottoman Tripolitania |
| Religion | Sunni Islam[3] |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname(s) | Shaykh ash-Shuhadā' شَيخ الشُّهَدَاء,Sheikh of theMartyrs |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Senussi Order |
| Branch/service | Senussid Military Adwar |
| Years of service | |
| Battles/wars | |
ʿUmar al-Mukhtār Muḥammadbin Farḥāt al-Manifī (Arabic:عُمَر الْمُخْتَار مُحَمَّد بِن فَرْحَات الْمَنِفِي; 20 August 1858 – 16 September 1931), calledThe Lion of the Desert, known among the colonial Italians asMatari of the Mnifa,[4] was a Libyan revolutionary andImam who led the native resistance inCyrenaica (currentlyEastern Libya) under theSenussids, against theItalian colonization of Libya. A teacher-turned-general, Omar was a prominent figure of theSenussi movement and is considered the national hero of Libya and a symbol of resistance in theArab andIslamic worlds. Beginning in 1911, he organised and led theLibyan resistance movement against theItalian colonial empire during theFirst andSecond Italo-Senussi Wars. Externally, he also fought against theFrench colonization of Chad and theBritish occupation of Egypt.[5] After many attempts, the Italian Armed Forces managed to capture Al-Mukhtar nearSlonta when he was wounded in battle by Libyancolonial troops, and hanged him in 1931 after he refused to surrender.
Omar Al-Mukhtar was born in 1858 in the town ofZanzur nearTobruk, in the region ofOttomanCyrenaica to the Arab Mnifa tribe, belonging to the Senussi (who were seen asLibyan Ashrafs clan just like Emir or KingIdris es Senussi),[6][7] before eventually becoming chief or leader of the clan. As a child, Omar lost his father early on and spent his youth in poverty. He was adopted by asheikh, and was friends with the nephew of Hussein Ghariani, Sharif al Geriani. His uncle was a political-religious leader in Cyrenaica, and he received his early education at the local mosque, before continuing his studies for eight years at the Senussi University inJaghbub,[8] the holy city of the SenussiTariqa. He became a popular expert on theQuran and animam, joining the confraternity of the Senussi. He also came to be well informed of the social structure of his society, as he was chosen to settle intertribal disputes.
Mukhtar developed a strong relationship with theSenussid Movement during his years in Jaghbub and in 1895, Al-Mahdi Senoussi traveled with him south toKufra, and on another occasion further south to Karo in Chad, where he was appointed assheikh of Zawiyat Ayn Kalk. When theFrench Empire encroached on Chad in 1899, he was sent among other Senussites to help defend Chad from the French, as the Senussi considered their expansion dangerous due to their missionary activities in Central and West Africa. In 1902, Omar was recalled north after the death of Al-Mahdi, the new Senussi leaderAhmed Sharif as-Senussi appointed him as Sheikh of the troubled Zawiyat Laqsur in Northern Cyrenaica.
In October 1911, during the Italo-Turkish War, theRegia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) under the command of AdmiralLuigi Faravelli reached the shores of Libya, then a territory subject toOttoman control. The admiral demanded that the Ottoman administration and garrison surrender their territory to the Italians or incur the immediate destruction of the city ofTripoli andBenghazi. The Ottomans and their Libyan allies withdrew to the countryside instead of surrendering, and the Italians bombarded the cities for three days, and then proclaimed the Tripolitanians to be 'committed and strongly bound to Italy'.[9] This marked the beginning of a series of battles between the Italian colonial forces and the Libyan armed opposition inCyrenaica.[10]
A teacher of theQur'an by profession, Mukhtar was also skilled in the strategies and tactics ofdesert warfare. He knew local geography well and used that knowledge to advantage in battles against the Italians, who were unaccustomed todesert warfare. Mukhtar repeatedly led his small, highly alert groups in successful attacks against the Italians, after which they would fade back into the desert terrain. Mukhtar’s men skilfully attacked outposts, ambushed troops, and cut lines of supply and communication. TheRegio Esercito (Italian Royal Army) was left astonished by his guerrilla tactics.[11][better source needed]
In the mountainous region ofJebel Akhdar ("Green Mountain") in 1924, Italian governorErnesto Bombelli created a counter-guerrilla force that inflicted a severe setback to guerilla forces in April 1925. Mukhtar then quickly modified his own tactics and was able to count on continued help fromEgypt. In March 1927, despite the occupation ofGiarabub from February 1926 and increasingly stringent rule under GovernorAttilio Teruzzi, Mukhtar surprised Italian troops atRaheiba. In 1927 and 1928, Mukhtar reorganised theSenusite forces, who were being hunted constantly by the Italians.MarshalPietro Badoglio, Governor of Libya from January 1929, after extensive negotiations, concluded a compromise with Mukhtar (described by the Italians as his complete submission) similar to previous Italo-Senusite accords. At the end of October 1929, Mukhtar denounced the compromise and re-established a unity of action among Libyan forces, preparing himself for the ultimate confrontation withGeneralRodolfo Graziani, the Italian military commander from March 1930. A massive offensive in June against Mukhtar's forces having failed, Graziani, in full accord with Badoglio,Emilio De Bono (Minister of the Colonies), andBenito Mussolini, initiated a plan to break the Libyan Mujāhideen: the 100,000 people of Jebel Akhdar would be relocated to concentration camps on the coast, and the Libyan-Egyptian border from the coast at Giarabub would be fence-closed, preventing any foreign help to the fighters and depriving them of support from the native population. These measures, which Graziani initiated early in 1931, took their toll on the Senusite resistance. The rebels were deprived of help and reinforcements, spied upon, hit by Italian aircraft, and pursued on the ground by the Italian forces aided by local informers and collaborators.
Mukhtar's final adversary, ItalianGeneralRodolfo Graziani, has given a description of the Senusite leader that is not lacking in respect: "Of medium height, stout, with white hair, beard, and mustache. Omar was endowed with a quick and lively intelligence; was knowledgeable in religious matters, and revealed an energetic and impetuous character, unselfish and uncompromising; ultimately, he remained very religious and poor, even though he had been one of the most important Senusist figures."[12]
Mukhtar maintained good relations with the Braasa and Dorsa tribes, who had joined the rebellion, while he reacted with the raiding of animals and intimidation against the tribes who had submitted to the Italians. On November 29, 1927, near Slonta, he attacked a Braasa tribe camp, who also had submitted, invading it with 250 horsemen and also attacking on women and children.[13]
Mukhtar's struggle of nearly twenty years came to an end on 11 September 1931, when he was wounded inbattle near Slonta, and then captured by LibyanSavaris of the Italian Army.[14] On 16 September 1931, on the orders of the Italian court and with Italian hopes that Libyan resistance would die with him, Mukhtar washanged before his followers inSoluch concentration camp at the age of 73.
A major role is assigned to the Arab, Emir Idris es Senussi, who aspires to become ruler of the fairly large Senussi tribe in Cyrenaica.
Senussi chief, Omar el Mukhtar
