The North African country of Libya was once a continental leader. Driving the continent to form the African Union in September of 1999. This was known as the Sirte Declaration, delegations from across the continent flocked to the coastal city to begin building a new African future. In the north, France watched begrudgingly. Since 1969, Libya had been a thorn in the side of the European colonial powers.

Libya supported liberation movements on the African continent, as well as abroad. The ousting of the revolutionary government of Muammar Al-Gaddafi was a decades long fantasy of the western powers. Brother Leader Muammar Gaddafi time and time again had wiped salt in the wounds of the colonial west. Whether it be supporting such groups as the Irish Republican Army, or opposing apartheid in both Gaza and South Africa. Nelson Mandela praised Libya as a Pan-African continental leader. Elaborating that their support was pivotal in the success of the South African Anti-Apartheid movement. Many African countries looked to Libya as not only a leader, but a stabilizing force as well. Including those in so called Francophone Africa.

When Libya experienced it’s Al-Fateh Revolution in 1969, well known as Gaddafi’s Bloodless Coup, Libya was in fact among the poorest countries in the entire world. In short time, Gaddafi’s revolutionary government transformed the country into a socialist oasis. Thanks in part to large domestic oil reserves, as well as the sober policies of Muammar Gaddafi. Libya was in fact the first country in the world to gain a majority stake in it’s own domestic production. Something which made the colonial powers nervous. Throughout the twentieth century, Libya’s revolutionary ambitions were largely shielded, thanks to diverse international friendships. Such as with the USSR, Mao’s China, and various countries throughout the developing world. However after the collapse of the USSR, many countries needed to adjust to the new era of unipolarity.

Gaddafi’s Jamahiriya or State of the Masses, was no exception. After decades of sanctions, Libya was desperate to join the new ‘International Community’. Libya gave up it’s weapons of mass destruction program in 2003, as well as caving to intense pressure to settle the infamous Lockerbie Affair. In addition, Gaddafi agreed to begin transitioning Libya’s state-planned economy, to a market oriented one.

However, it became quickly apparent to all, that these changes were merely cosmetic. And that Colonel Gaddafi hadn’t forgotten his anti-colonial attitudes, or his revolutionary postures. His tactics merely changed. Instead of funding liberation movements, Gaddafi provided much needed continental investment. Such as funding the first African Satellite in 2008, which saved the continent a combined total of 500 Million USD per year. An amount which had in the past gone into the pockets of European telecommunication companies.

Gaddafi wished to build up the strength of Africa, using the newly founded African Union as a vehicle for integration projects. These liberation projects were looked on by Europe as a positive development. That was until they began succeeding in their endeavors. The most well-known of these was of course the planned unified continental currency, the Gold based African Dinar. A project which France was looking at closely, fearing that their neo-colonial territories in West Africa would abandon France. This was revealed by WikiLeaks, in the famous Clinton email dump. Then French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his enthusiasm for the destruction of Libya. Arguing that Gaddafi’s plans for the African Union were a direct threat to French interests, as well as American. Though specifically, France feared Libya itself would supplant France as the dominant power in North Africa. Already providing funding for infrastructure, mitigation in armed conflict, and fruitful bilateral ties. The question remains now, why did the Libyan government fund the 2007 presidential run of Nicolas Sarkozy?

The topic of election interference remains contentious from every side of the fence. However in the case of Sarkozy, the allegations do indeed seem to carry weight. For almost two decades, Sarkozy has been battling allegations and court cases dealing with this very issue. The case of January 2025 is the latest in these. Sarkozy is charged with accepting millions of Euros from the Libyan government. An unspecified amount, starting as low as 5 Million, to as high as 50 million euros. The charge suggests that the funding was meant to incentivize France to assist Libya in it’s reproachment with the west. However according to the son of Muammar Gaddafi, the reasons indeed go much deeper. 

Saif Al Islam has been very consistent in his disappointment for Nicolas Sarkozy. At the start of the 2011 NATO bombardment of Libya, Saif Gaddafi interviewed with Euronews. In this interview Saif Gaddafi cheekily said this clown needs to give the Libyan people back their money. Saif claimed that he himself oversaw some of the suitcases which were given to French officials. In addition in the case of trial, Saif was ready to provide recorded evidence and provide witnesses as well. Later in 2018, Saif wrote a sworn testimony to investigating forces in France. In a recent exclusive interview with RIF, Saif corroborated the facts once more. Saif said that Sarkozy has been trying to exert pressure on Saif regarding this evidence. The first attempt allegedly came in 2021 through the Paris-based consultant Souha al-Bedri, who asked him to deny all claims of Libyan support for Sarkozy's campaign in exchange for help resolving his case with the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he remains wanted. The back door deals involving the Libyan and French governments remains mysterious. However based on the actions of both parties, we can see that this arrangement was another sign of reproachment with the west. Was this naivety? Or desperate pragmatism? 

Moussa Ibrahim is the former spokesperson for the Libyan Government, and has spoken to Russia Today (RT) a dozen times on issues concerning Libya. In an interview with Going Underground in 2019, Moussa claimed that the Gaddafi government wished to keep the fighting front with the west quiet, so that they could pay attention to the African context. Was the Libyan financing of Sarkozy one of these enigmatic chess moves? An attempt at pacification? Indeed, after Sarkozy’s election, he relaxed several court cases which were investigating Libyan officials for supposed state sponsor of terror. In addition sanctions were lifted, new bilateral ties opened. With this pacification, Gaddafi had the breathing space to build up his liberation projects. In his interview with Going Underground, Ibrahim drearily remarked, 

We did not have enough time to build up our strength. If the 2011 conspiracy had been delayed…perhaps for five years…we would have been much stronger. We would have had strong alliances, a robust economy and our African brothers behind us. But the west understood we had our weaknesses. This is why they rushed in then (2011).

Gaddafi had tamed the French Rooster for a time, but the leash was too thin. France’s reputation in Africa remains abhorrent to this day. Only time will tell if Sarkozy will face penalties for his accepting of Libyan funding. Having already been placed under house arrest in 2024, shackled with an electronic bracelet. However the true crime which Sarkozy has not been charged with is the destruction of Libya.

France was the first country to send fighter jets to the North African country. Was it to cover up Sarkozy’s personal corruption? Indeed, Sarkozy was personally invested in this war on Libya. However the Geo-Political interests of France were at the forefront. Everyone knew that Libya’s growing strength in Africa was a flame that could spread quickly. Sarkozy may not pay for his crimes in prison, but he’ll be remembered as a bloody insignificant footnote. 

Libya will not forget.