1. Bani Walid lies in central Libya. It is well positioned on the crossroads between Misrata, Tripoli and Tarhuna. The city is dominated by Warfalla tribe, which is the biggest tribe in Libya. Warfalla spreads from Sebha via Bani Walid, Syyrte up to Benghazi.pic.twitter.com/pOiJxjVW9x
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2. The city was earlier and oasis, which was important caravan stop in trade between Cyrenaika and Sahel (via Fezzan). During Ottoman rule, Bani Walid was used a taxing post and local shayhs were charged by them to rule the perimiter.
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3. During Ottoman-Italy war in 2011, Italians tried many times to capture the city, but they failed. Instead they bribed the shayhs to remain neutral, while attacking city of Misrata themselves. The modern history of the city starts in 1919 during Italian colonial reign.
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4. During 1919 fight with Misrata, which declared independence as so called "Tripolitanian Republic", Italians used tribes of Bani Walid to support their attack on Misrata. In a battle of Bani Walid, Ramadan al-Sweihli, Misratan leader, who was successfully fighting Italians.pic.twitter.com/AqPLQOhu57
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5. The death of Sweihli, prompted inter-city violence between Misrata and Bani Walid. Why? The cleveage line was urban/cosmopolitan city of Misrata vs rural/tribal Bani Walid. Misratans never forgot that Bani Walid was supporting Italians and killed their leader.
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6. After Qaddafi entry to power, in order to balance influence of King Idris and Senussi, he decided to create a new army corps, mainly consisting of Arabic Tribes like Warfalla, Qadhafa or Magharha. Bani Walid leaders were also taken into politics to Tripoli.
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7. Warfalla dominated low/medium ranks of military, while to famous tribal members: Matuq Mohammed Matuq (Ministry of Labour and Education) and Umran Bukraa (Ministry of Electrification/Infrastructure), where part of GCC ruling the country.
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8. Despite strong support of tribe, city of Bani Walid was not very much benefiting out of this policy. Mainly students were taken to Tripoli and given scholarships. In 1980s Qaddafi signed with Finland and agreement for ammunition production facility. The facility was a decoy.
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9. According to reports, it was in reality built by Soviets, who were also using it to train Libyan officers and called the building "Officer School". in reality they produced the 7.62mm ammunition, breaking the sanctions.
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10. In 1993 Bani Walid was accused by Qaddafi in taking part of alleged coup. 42 officers mainly from Warfalla tribes were arrested in Tripoli and Bani Walid. General Miftar Qarum, alleged coup leader was hanged in Tripoli. There are no written proofs of coup.pic.twitter.com/p53NlYwYlH
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11. Many Warfallan officers escaped to Tunisia, some of them went to UK. Officers captured in Bani Walid were placed before their elders, who were supposed to punish "traitors" as a test of own loyalty. Nobody decided to do it, as an effect 17 officers were hanged in Tripoli.
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12. Bani Walid in 90s lost their significance, while Syyrte started to gain more attention in terms of investments. As the city hosted military barracks and was home to tank battalion, Qaddafi decided to install praetorian unit in order to control the city. Jibril al Hussein.pic.twitter.com/dx1fJKyyrc
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13. Jibril Al-Hussein set his unit (called by his name) and started to recruit local youth. In 2004-2006 Qaddafi started to wage war against Revolutionary Committees who started to grow to strong. Hussein was part of it, while gaining own influence and profitalizing on it.
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14. When the 2011 "Revolution" started, people of Bani Walid remained mainly neutral. Jibrin Hussein went with his regiment to fight in Benghazi, but died 20.03.2011 under Adjabiyah, bombed by French planes. Without his the city return to rule/control by elders, but not only.
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15. In May 2011, the city witnessed first protests supporting Revolution. One of main organisers was Salih al-Futmani, whose family members were prosecuted in 1993 coup and he himself escaped to KSA. He returned via Benghazi and started to organize the movement and protests.
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16. On 28th of May, during one of the protests, security forces brutally attacked it and killed Futmani's brother. He himself contacted Arif al Najjid (Werfalla himself), member of NTC goverment in order to create a branch in Bani Walid. He was nominated as NTC representant.
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17. Futmani and other returning from Tunis Werfalla's member Abdel Salam Qanounah created a police force, later turned into militia called 28th May battalion (named after day of massacre). Qanounah became head of Military Council until 2012.pic.twitter.com/EEbyMENTie
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