Muammar Gaddafi rose to power in Libya in a military coup in 1969. He ruled the country for 42 years as a dictator, suppressing dissent and amassing vast wealth. During the Arab Spring in 2011, protests against his regime erupted, and he was overthrown and killed by rebel forces in October. The fall of Gaddafi marked the end of an era of authoritarian rule in Libya, paving the way for a transitional government and the establishment of a new constitution. However, the country has since been plagued by instability and conflict, as various factions and militias vie for control in the aftermath of Gaddafi's downfall.
