The Qadhadhfa (also ''al-Qaddafa'', ''Gaddadfa'', ''Qaddadfa'', ''Gaddafa''; ) is one of the

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

Ashraf Sharīf or Sherif (, 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled shareef, feminine sharīfa (), plural ashrāf (), shurafāʾ (), or (in the Maghreb) shurfāʾ, is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, from the famil ...

tribes in Libya, living in the

Sirte District Sirte District (or ''Sirt'' or ''Surt'' District; ''Surt'', ), is one of the districts of Libya, in the Tripolitania region in the north of the country and borders the Gulf of Sidra. Its capital is the city of Sirte. Al-Tahadi University is loc ...

in present-day northwestern

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

. They are traditionally counted amongst the country's Ashraf tribes, and during the

Gaddafi regime Muammar Gaddafi became the '' de facto'' leader of Libya on 1 September 1969 after leading a group of young Libyan Army officers against King Idris I in a bloodless coup d'état. When Idris was in Turkey for medical treatment, the Revolutio ...

were regarded as one of the greatest and most powerful tribes in the whole country. They are now mostly centered at

Qasr Abu Hadi Qasr Abu Hadi () is a village with an estimated 4,890 inhabitants in the Sirte District of Libya. It is 2 km east of the Gardabya Airport and 20 km south of Sirte. Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al- ...

, Sirte.

History

The

progenitor In genealogy, a progenitor (rarer: primogenitor; or ''Ahnherr'') is the founder (sometimes one that is legendary) of a family, line of descent, gens, clan, tribe, noble house, or ethnic group.. Ebenda''Ahnherr:''"Stammvater eines Geschlec ...

of the Banu Qadhadhfa was Amr Qadhadhf al-Dam (عمرو قذاف الدم), who claimed to be a descendant of

Musa al-Kadhim Musa al-Kazim (; 745–799) was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the seventh imam in Twelver Shia Islam. Musa is often known by the title al-Kazim (), apparently a reference to his patience and gentle disposition. He was born ...

. The tribe has supported the idea of Arab unity as an Arab tribe in Libya itself. They are notable for their role in the 1969 coup d'état that deposed King Idris of Libya and as the tribe of his successor

Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi (20 October 2011) was a Libyan military officer, revolutionary, politician and political theorist who ruled Libya from 1969 until Killing of Muammar Gaddafi, his assassination by Libyan Anti-Gaddafi ...

. The tribe has proven to be an influential player in Libya's ongoing civil war. It is known for its active presence in

Sirte Sirte (; , ), also spelled Sirt, Surt, Sert or Syrte, is a city in Libya. It is located south of the Gulf of Sirte, almost right in the middle between Tripoli and Benghazi. It is famously known for its battles, ethnic groups and loyal ...

. Their dominance of the region caused Sirte to grow and become comparable to

Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis (from , meaning "three cities") may refer to: Places Greece *Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in the Pelasgiotis district, Thessaly, near Larissa ...

and

Benghazi Benghazi () () is the List of cities in Libya, second-most-populous city in Libya as well as the largest city in Cyrenaica, with an estimated population of 859,000 in 2023. Located on the Gulf of Sidra in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, Ben ...

in terms of national power. Qadhadhfa influence caused Sirte and Sabha to become completely loyal to Gaddafi during his rule of the country. The Qadhadhfa fought for and supported the

Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Muammar Gaddafi became the '' de facto'' leader of Libya on 1 September 1969 after leading a group of young Libyan Army officers against King Idris I in a bloodless coup d'état. When Idris was in Turkey for medical treatment, the Revolutio ...

and the

Green Resistance Gaddafi loyalism, also known as the Green resistance, consists of sympathetic sentiment towards the overthrown leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in October 2011, and his Third International Theory. Despite Muammar Gaddafi's deat ...

throughout the

Second Libyan Civil War The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of U ...

and the

Libyan Crisis Demographics of Libya is the demography of Libya, specifically covering population density, ethnicity, and religious affiliations, as well as other aspects of the Libyan population. All figures are from the United Nations Demographic Yearbooks ...

. After Gaddafi's death in October 2011, leading members of the Qadhadhfa demanded the return of his body by

Misrata Misrata ( ; , Libyan Arabic: ; also spelled Misratah and known by the Italian spelling Misurata) is a city in northwestern Libya located in the Misrata District, situated to the east of Tripoli on the Mediterranean coast near Cape Misrata. ...

n fighters for burial by relatives in Sirte.

Notable Qadhadhfa

– Leader of Libya 1969-2011 *

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Saif al-Islam Muammar al-Gaddafi (; born 25 June 1972) is a Libyan political figure. He is the second son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his second wife Safia Farkash. He was a part of his father's inner circle, performing publ ...

– Libyan politician, son of Muammar Gaddafi *

Moussa Ibrahim Moussa Ibrahim Gaddafi ( ; romanized also as ''Mussa'' and ''Musa'', born 7 December 1974) is a Libyan political figure who rose to international attention in 2011 as Muammar Gaddafi's Information Minister and official spokesman, serving in ...

– Libyan Information Minister *

Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam (; born 1952) is a cousin and former aide of erstwhile Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He is Libya's former Special Envoy to Egypt and was a leading figure of the Gaddafi regime and a key member of Gaddafi's inner circle. Bio ...

– Libyan diplomat, cousin of Muammar Gaddafi *

Mansour Dhao Mansour Dhao Ibrahim (; sometimes spelled Dao or Daw) is a Libyan former politician. He was a prominent figure in the Gaddafi government, serving as Muammar Gaddafi's chief of security until they were both captured. Dhao was the leader of the reg ...

– Libyan general, cousin of Muammar Gaddafi *

Wanis al-Qaddafi Wanis al-Qaddafi (; 22 November 1922 – 1 December 1986) was a Libyan politician. He held many positions in the era of the Kingdom of Libya and was the tenth Prime Minister of Libya from 4 September 1968 to 31 August 1969, when his governm ...

– Prime Minister of Libya from 1968 to 1969 under

King Idris Idris (, Muhammad Idris bin Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi; 13 March 1890 – 25 May 1983) was King of Libya from 24 December 1951 until his ousting in the 1 September 1969 coup d'état. He ruled over the United Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 19 ...

, married the daughter of

Omar Faiek Shennib Sir Omar Faiek Shennib (Omar Fayek Shennib, Omar Shannib, Omar Shannaib) () was Libyan Minister of Defence, Chief of the Royal Diwan, and the Vice President of the Libyan National Assembly under the reign of King Idris Al Senussi. Shennib was the ...

of the House of Shennib, no relation to Muammar Gaddafi *

Sayyid Gaddaf al-Dam Sayyid Mohammed Gaddaf al-Dam (25 February 1948 – 16 March 2023) was a Libyan brigadier general and a cousin of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and older brother of Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam. He was part of Gaddafi's inner circle. Biography ...

– Libyan general, cousin of Muammar Gaddafi. *

Massoud Abdelhafid Massoud Abdelhafid () was a Libyan army general during the government of Muammar Gaddafi. He held various major positions in the government following the 1969 coup d'etat of Muammar Gaddafi, including Commander of Military Security, Governor of F ...

— Libyan General, Relative Of Muammar Gaddafi and Ahmad Gaddaf al-Dam. One of the most notable figures during the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. Married to Ahmad Gaddaf Al Dam’s Sister.

References

*''Current biography yearbook'', Volume 53, H.W. Wilson Company, 1992, p. 457. *Jean-François Bayart, ''Global subjects: a political critique of globalization'', Polity, 2007, , p. 56. *Dirk J. Vandewalle, ''Libya since 1969: Qadhafi's revolution revisited'', Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, , p. 73. Arab ethnic groups Tribes of Libya * {{Libya-stub

History

Notable Qadhadhfa

See also

References