By: Oluwaseyi Fasiku

Self determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion. By extension, it has come to mean the free choice of one’s own acts without external compulsion. The right to self-determination is recognized as a right of all peoples in the United Nations International Bill of Human Rights and of indigenous peoples in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the General Assembly in DEFINITION OF SELF-DETERMINATION

Cyrenaica is the eastern region of Libya, a country located in the northern part of Africa  Cyrenaica is adjacent to Tripolitania in the northwest and Fezzan in the southwest CYRENAICA Source:eurasiareview.com

Source:timesofmalta.com Source:generationaldynamics.com

Cyrenaica — or Barqa, as it is referred to locally — stretches from the littoral town of Sirte (known famously as the birthplace of Muammar Gaddafi) to the eastern border with Egypt Benghazi which is Cyrenaica’s capital is the second largest city in Libya Cyrenaica holds about three-quarters of Libya's vast oil reserves  It was the birthplace of the Libyan civil war SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CYRENAICA

Despite its’ oil rich reserves, the people in the region of Cyrenaica have continually suffered decades of discrimination and marginalization from the central Libyan Government, hence the need for self- determination. DECADES OF MARGINALIZATION

 For about 10 years after it became an independent state in1951,Libya was run along federal lines with power devolved to Cyrenaica, Fezzan and Tripolitania.  Cyrenaica also enjoyed prestige and power under King Idris  After being toppled by Gaddafi’s military coup in 1969,Eastern Libya was sidelined for the next four decades This history of autonomy is partially driving its bid for self determination within Libya. CYRENAICA AND AUTONOMY

Marginalization and neglect of the Cyrenaica people for over four decades Lack of significant economic progress and development unlike that of Tripolitania and Fezzan Cyrenaicans’ dissatisfaction with the central government in Tripoli Under-representation of Cyrenaicans’ in the interim parliamentary body REASONS FOR SELF-DETERMINATION

Muammar al-Gaddafi Mustapha Abdel Jalil WHAT IS COMMON BETWEEN THEM?

R-L: Mustapha Abdel Jalil(President of National Transitional Council of Libya),Abdulraheem Alkeeb(Transitional Prime minister of Libya) LOVERS OF CENTRALISM

 Lack of transparency  A failure to protect the rights of minorities  Slow restoration of public services in areas worst hit during the revolution  An unaccountable detention system  Inability to bring militias under total control and decommission their arms.  The torture of prisoners SHORTCOMINGS OF THE NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL(NTC) OF LIBYA

…. A crime against humanity THE ASSASSINATION OF ABDUL FATAH YOUNIS

Source:canada.com

Source::news.xinhuanet.com

The process of self-determination can be through: direct negotiation by representatives of the participants, meditation through a trusted third party, the findings of an agreed-upon independent tribunal, or the ruling of a recognized international court such as the International court of Justice. The process ends with the people's consent to a proposed outcome through a referendum, plebiscite or some other means. PROCESS OF SELF DETERMINATION

... The conference elected Ahmed al-Zubair, an NTC member and the longest- serving political prisoner under Muammar Gadhafi, to lead Cyrenaica's governing council,Ahmed Zubair al-Senussi, a member of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council, addresses the media after being elected leader of the Cyrenaica region. Source:theepochtimes.com

. Libyan leader,(R)-Mustapha Abdel Jalil,threatens to use ‘force’ to foil east autonomy bid

Libya - About Cyrenaica Declaration of Autonomy: an Interview with Abayomi. Source: article.wn.com

Arabic writing on the banner, right, reads "Libyan youth will protect the revolution." Source:(AP Photo/ Ibrahim Alaguri )

The flag of Cyrenaica: black with white crescent and white star Source:temehu.com