libya Essay example -- essays research papers

Libya is an Arab country in northern Africa. It lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The country is surround by Egypt and Sudan on the east, Chad and Niger on the south, and Algeria and Tunisia on the west. Tripoli is Libyas capital and largest city. The vast, dry Sahara covers most of Libya, and the country has few natural resources. But the discovery of petroleum in 1959 injected huge sums of money into Libyas economy. The government of Libya used some of this wealth to improve farmland and provide services for the people. Almost all of Libyas people are of assorted Arab and Berber ancestry and are Muslims. Until the early 1900s, Libya consisted of three separate geographical and historical regions. It became a united, independent country in 1951. Libyas official name is the Great state-controlled Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.GovernmentMuammar Muhammad al-Qadhafi is Libyas head of state, but he holds no official title. In 1969, Qadhafi led a military revolt that overthre w the ruling monarchy. Libyas government is establish on popular assemblies. All Libyan citizens age 18 or older may vote and hold public office. About 1,000 local groups elite a representative to the General Peoples Congress (GPC), which officially runs the matter government. The General Peoples Congress meets every year to consider legislation and to select the members of the General Peoples Committee, which develops national policy. Libya is divided into 24 political units called bal...