Libya Snows for the First Time in 15 Years

For the past week, Libya, a North African state, has been snowing. Such a phenomenon rarely occurs in the continent. Many were taken aback by the occurrence and started questioning whether it was a good or bad omen. It has been fifteen years since the country experienced snows.

Snowy Libya

On Monday, Libya’s Green Mountain, located in the northeastern part of the country, started releasing snow. Analysts anticipate that the phenomenon will continue for the next three days or even more. Libyans were amazed by the happening. Sources reported that families dressed warmly and headed outside to enjoy the wintry scenery.

What Does a Snowy Day Mean to Libyans?

Mohammed Saleh, a Libyan nationality residing in Bayda, believes that snowfall is an omen for peace in their country. Saleh hopes that the snowfall will be a good sign for their homeland by unifying their institutions and government. He would love to see life return to normalcy with people showing love for one another.

Saleeh states that seeing children, people, and families from his area play with the snow brightens his heart. Ali Al-Shairi, another Bayda resident, also says how impressed he is after seeing many having a good time with the snow, some making snowballs and throwing at each other while others were building snowmen and women.

The Libyan National Meteorological Center stated that the snowfalls in Al-Bayda, Yefren, Nalut, Green Mountain, Nafusa Mountain, and Al-Marj were because the regions’ temperatures were near and below zero degrees celsius.

What Cost Libya its Peace?

Since the Nato-backed forces ousted Libya’s former long-serving ruler, Muammar Gadaffi, Libya has been beset in chaos. The oil-rich country is no longer stable as it used to be. Ten years ago, Libya used to be among the top African states offering high living standards to its nationals, with free healthcare and free education.

However, the stability that led to its prosperity is no more; it has all been shattered. Its capital city Tripoli is currently the center of chaos, where rival forces stage their battles. Negotiations to rebuild the state are still underway, as different controversies arise daily.

Unfortunately, the only people holding power are Libya’s myriad armed militias, who happen to be backing different political regimes. I.e., the east and west politicians, who both have varying interests. Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, who leads the GNA, is one of the leading politicians. Fayez, an engineer by profession, arrived in Tripoli in 2016 and formulated the GNA administration.

Though he has worked to gain various politicians’ and militias’ support, he does not have much power. Meanwhile, there is the Libyan National Army, which Gen Khalifa Haftar heads. LNA has acquired much power in the state in that the Libyan Parliament blocks efforts to organize fresh elections as it wants to retain Gen Khalifa at the top.

Since Libyans seek liberation, many have condemned Khalifa. Some go as far as suggesting that Haftar has ambitions to become the ‘Sisi of Libya,’ a reference to Gen Abdul Fattah al Sisi, former Egypt’s authoritative ruler.