On Libya’s Independence Day, Crown Prince Mohammed El Hassan El Rida El Senussi delivered a speech that was as much a reflection on Libya’s past as it was a vision for its future. Speaking with urgency, the Crown Prince called for the nation to rally around its historical identity and embrace a return to constitutional monarchy as the only sustainable solution to the fragmentation and instability that have plagued the country for over a decade. His address comes at a time of dramatic shifts in the Middle East, underscoring its resonance for Europe and the broader international community.
The Crown Prince’s message was heavily focused on his country’s history. He paid homage to the architects of Libya’s independence in 1951, whose unity overcame immense challenges to forge a sovereign state. Yet, he also warned that this legacy of unity is under grave threat. Years of corruption, foreign interference, and internal divisions have left Libya at risk of disintegration. The urgency of his call to action reflects a broader regional fragility, exemplified most recently by the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria—a historic event with far-reaching implications for the region and the world.
The fall of Damascus on December 8, 2024, marked the end of Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule and more than six decades of Baathist authoritarianism. The speed and relative lack of violence with which Syrian opposition forces dismantled Assad’s military apparatus revealed the fragility of states that lack unifying identities. Libya, too, risks succumbing to similar forces unless it addresses its fragmented governance. Prince Mohammed’s speech highlighted the critical need for a framework that can unite the nation—a role he argues the constitutional monarchy is uniquely positioned to fulfil.
The parallels between Libya and Syria are striking. Both nations have been arenas for external meddling, and in Libya’s case, Russia’s involvement mirrors its strategic manoeuvres in Syria. By entrenching itself in Libya following its departure from Syria, Moscow aims to maintain a foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean, leveraging the country’s instability to project power. In Syria, Russia’s intervention has been pivotal in propping up the Assad regime since 2015, yet its marginal role during the regime’s collapse suggests the limits of its influence. Libya, however, remains a key strategic arena for Moscow, which seeks to secure its access to the Mediterranean while exploiting the power vacuum.
Prince Mohammed’s address also spoke directly to the international community, urging global powers to respect Libya’s sovereignty and avoid turning it into a battleground for competing agendas. His plea resonates amid the broader fallout from Assad’s downfall, which has left the region grappling with the repercussions of weakened states and shifting alliances. The fragility of nations like Libya and Syria highlights the urgent need for governance models that can withstand external pressures and foster internal cohesion.
The Crown Prince’s proposal for a return to constitutional monarchy has and continues to offer a pragmatic path forward. The 1951 Constitution, which he champions, provides a tested framework for democratic governance, ensuring stability while respecting Libya’s diverse social fabric and entrenched in the country’s history. In his speech, Prince Mohammed emphasised that this model not only safeguards Libya’s unity but also empowers its citizens to shape their future through fair elections and peaceful transitions of power.
Libya’s challenges, however, are not confined to its borders. Europe, just across the Mediterranean, has a vested interest in the country’s stability. Libya’s ongoing turmoil has fuelled migration crises and created a breeding ground for extremism—issues that directly impact European security. The Crown Prince’s vision for a stable, sovereign Libya is as much a call for European engagement as it is a roadmap for national renewal.
The lessons from Syria are clear: without a unifying identity or governance structure, states can crumble under the weight of internal and external pressures. The Assad regime’s fall has left Syria grappling with the complex task of rebuilding from decades of authoritarian rule. For Libya, the opportunity remains to avoid such a fate by embracing a governance model rooted in its historical identity.
Prince Mohammed’s address serves as a powerful reminder that the answers to Libya’s crisis lie within its own history. The restoration of the constitutional monarchy offers not just a nod to the past but a practical solution for the future—a framework that can unite Libya’s fractured polity, safeguard its sovereignty, and restore its place in the region and the world. As the Middle East navigates the post-Assad era, Libya’s path forward will be a critical test of whether unity and stability can prevail in a region marked by fragmentation and upheaval.
