Libya - Revision history

Admin1: /* Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union */

2025-10-19T17:40:22Z

Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union

Admin1: /* Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union */

2025-10-19T17:11:42Z

Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union

Admin1: /* Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union */

2025-10-19T17:07:20Z

Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union

Admin1: /* Libya */

2025-10-19T16:48:22Z

Libya

Admin1: /* Libya */

2025-10-19T16:43:29Z

Libya

Admin1: /* Libya */

2025-10-19T16:41:41Z

Libya

Admin1: /* Foreign, Short-Lived, and Unofficial Camouflage Worn by Libyan Forces */

2025-10-19T16:38:49Z

Foreign, Short-Lived, and Unofficial Camouflage Worn by Libyan Forces

Admin1: /* Libya */

2025-10-18T19:35:35Z

Libya

Admin1: /* Libyan Camouflage Patterns */

2025-10-18T16:27:32Z

Libyan Camouflage Patterns

Admin1 at 16:23, 18 October 2025

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 == Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union ==
-The following six designs were reputedly created specifically for use by the African Union (AU), possibly by Muammar al-Gaddafi himself. All six incorporate dark-colored shapes in the outline of the African continent, both small and large sized, on a lighter colored background. The variety of color combinations suggest different patterns would have been issued for different climates, terrains or missions, although it is also possible some of the patterns were intended for specific types of units (non-combatants, police, etc). To date, none of the patterns have been documented in use by the AU itself, but at least two or three have been worn by the Libyan Revolutionary Guard (specifically the "Amazonian Guard", as well as by Gaddafi himself, around 2003. The patterns have no official designation and, as they are all identical but for the coloration, we simply list them here together as a reference.
+The following six designs were reputedly created specifically for use by the African Union (AU), possibly by Muammar al-Gaddafi himself. All six incorporate dark-colored shapes in the outline of the African continent, both small and large sized, on a lighter colored background. The variety of color combinations suggest different patterns would have been issued for different climates, terrains or missions, although it is also possible some of the patterns were intended for specific types of units (non-combatants, police, etc). To date, none of the patterns have been documented in use by the AU itself, but at least two or three have been worn by the Libyan Revolutionary Guard (specifically the "Amazonian Guard"), around 2003. The patterns have no official designation and, as they are all identical but for the coloration, we simply list them here together as a reference.
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 == Libyan Camouflage Designs for the African Union ==
-The following six designs were reputedly created specifically for use by the African Union (AU), possibly by Muammar al-Gaddafi himself. All six incorporate dark-colored shapes in the outline of the African continent, both small and large sized, on a lighter colored background. The variety of color combinations suggest different patterns would have been issued for different climates, terrains or missions, although it is also possible some of the patterns were intended for specific types of units (non-combatants, police, etc). To date, none of the patterns have been documented in use by the AU, but at least two or three have been worn by Libyan military personnel such as the Revolutionary Guard, as well as by Gaddafi himself. The patterns have no official designation and, as they are all identical but for the coloration, we simply list them here together as a reference.
+The following six designs were reputedly created specifically for use by the African Union (AU), possibly by Muammar al-Gaddafi himself. All six incorporate dark-colored shapes in the outline of the African continent, both small and large sized, on a lighter colored background. The variety of color combinations suggest different patterns would have been issued for different climates, terrains or missions, although it is also possible some of the patterns were intended for specific types of units (non-combatants, police, etc). To date, none of the patterns have been documented in use by the AU itself, but at least two or three have been worn by the Libyan Revolutionary Guard (specifically the "Amazonian Guard", as well as by Gaddafi himself, around 2003. The patterns have no official designation and, as they are all identical but for the coloration, we simply list them here together as a reference.
 [[File:libya6.jpg|200px]]

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 Discovery of vast oil reserves enabled the monarchy to amass great wealth during subsequent years, but as a result popular resentment took hold, fueled by Nasserism and Arab nationalism spreading throughout the Middle East. On September 1, 1969, a small group of military officers led by 27-year-old army officer Muammar al-Gaddafi staged a coup d'état against King Idris, launching the Libyan Revolution. The officers abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed a new Libyan Arab Republic. Gaddafi was declared Revolutionary Leader and retained the position of national leader until he was executed during the Libyan Revolution in 2011.
-Gaddafi's Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (القوات المسلحة للجماهيرية العربية الليبية) consisted of the Libyan Army, Libyan Air Force, Libyan Navy, and the People's Militia, with an estimated 119,000 active duty personnel in early 2011, and nearly a million reservists. The Revolutionary Guards Corps, also known as the ''Jamahiriyyah Guard,'' were created by Gaddafi specifically as his personal protection force, reputedly hand-picked from the Qadhadhfa (القذاذفة) tribe in Sirte. At its height the Revolutionary Guards Corps had about 4,000 men and women, who were well armed up to and including armor, rocket launchers, SAMs, and anti-aircraft weapons.
+Gaddafi's Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (القوات المسلحة للجماهيرية العربية الليبية) consisted of the Libyan Army, Libyan Air Force, Libyan Navy, and the People's Militia, with an estimated 119,000 active duty personnel in early 2011, and nearly a million reservists. The Revolutionary Guards Corps, also known as the ''Jamahiriyyah Guard,'' were created by Gaddafi specifically as his personal protection force, reputedly hand-picked from the Qadhadhfa (القذاذفة) tribe in Sirte. At its height the Revolutionary Guards Corps had about 4,000 men and women (nicknamed the "Amazonian Guard" or الراهبات الثوريات), who were well armed and often dressed in attire that set them apart from regular military personnel.
-Under Muammar Gaddafi, Libya strongly promoted pan-Arabism (الوحدة العربية), fueled in part by Nasserism coming through neighboring [[Egypt]], as well as the Ba'athism of [[Syria]] and [[Iraq]]. Throughout the 1970s, Gaddafi made several attemps to merge Arab nations together, including the Federation of Arab Republics (Libya, Egypt and Syria), which lasted between 1972 and 1977.
+Under Gaddafi, Libya strongly promoted pan-Arabism (الوحدة العربية), fueled in part by Nasserism coming through neighboring [[Egypt]], as well as the Ba'athism of [[Syria]] and [[Iraq]]. Throughout the 1970s, Gaddafi made several attemps to merge Arab nations together, including the Federation of Arab Republics (Libya, Egypt and Syria), which lasted between 1972 and 1977.
-Historically supportive of Arab nationalist and sovereignty movements, Libya was a vocal proponent of the [[Palestine|PLO]] goal of liberating Palestine, and it is believed a number of training camps for international terrorist organizations were at one time sponsored in Libya. Gaddafi also supported the Lebanese Nationalist Movement (الحركة الوطنية اللبنانية) during the Lebanese Civil War, funneling around $100 million to Lebanese Shia causes. Around 500 Libyan troops were sent to [[Lebanon]] in 1976 as part of an Arab peacekeeping force. Libya has also intervened militarily in [[Chad]] on several occasions, but Libyans were ultimately rousted during the Toyota War (December 16, 1986 to September 11, 1987). Insofar as camouflage goes, it is worth noting that, throughout most of Gaddafi's reign, the standard combat uniform of the Libyan Army was solid olive green; camouflage was reserved for units with special status - airborne troops, special forces ("lightning troops"), and loyalist personnel like the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
+Historically supportive of Arab nationalist and sovereignty movements, Libya was a vocal proponent of the [[Palestine|PLO]] goal of liberating Palestine, and it is believed a number of training camps for international terrorist organizations were at one time sponsored in Libya. Gaddafi also supported the Lebanese Nationalist Movement (الحركة الوطنية اللبنانية) during the Lebanese Civil War, funneling around $100 million to Lebanese Shia causes. Around 500 Libyan troops were sent to [[Lebanon]] in 1976 as part of an Arab peacekeeping force. Libya has also intervened militarily in [[Chad]] on several occasions, but Libyans were ultimately rousted during the Toyota War (December 16, 1986 to September 11, 1987). It is worth noting that, throughout most of Gaddafi's reign, the standard combat uniform of the Libyan Army was solid olive green; camouflage was reserved for units with special status - airborne troops, special forces ("lightning troops"), internal security units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and loyalist personnel like the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
 Muammar Gaddafi played a prominent role in creating the African Union (AU), established in 2002, and in February 2009 was selected to be chairman for a year. Among the objectives of the AU are to achieve peace and security in Africa; and to promote democratic institutions, good governance and human rights. To this end, the AU has provided both intervention and peacekeeping forces to various nations in Africa.

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 While Byzantium controlled much of the coast, Arab Islamic armies conquered the regions of the Libyan interior during the 7th century and ultimately wrested control of the remaining cities from the Byzantines. Over the course of the following centuries, Libya came under the rule of several Islamic dynasties, although Berber tribes continued to offer resistance in defense of their traditional life ways. A Norman invasion from Sicily in the 12th century weakened the Arab hold on Libya, and by the 16th century the lands were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire which maintained control until the early 20th century.
-Weakened by corruption, revolt, and civil war, Ottoman rule eventually crumbled and was replaced during the "Scramble for Africa" by Italian rule. From 1912 until 1943, Italy administered the country as a colonial possession, adopting the name Libya in 1934, and enforcing their control militarily by suppressing a local resistance movement between 1928 to 1932. Following the abdication of Italy during Second World War, Libya was administered by both Britain and France, and in 1947 Italy officialy relinquished all claims to the territory. On November 21, 1949, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent and on December 24, 1951 the nation proclaimed itself the United Kingdom of Libya under the rule of King Idris.
+Weakened by corruption, revolt, and civil war, Ottoman rule eventually crumbled and was replaced during the "Scramble for Africa" by Italian rule. From 1912 until 1943, Italy administered the country as a colonial possession, adopting the name Libya in 1934, and enforcing their control militarily by suppressing a local resistance movement between 1928 to 1932. Following the abdication of Italy during Second World War, Libya was administered by both Britain and France, and in 1947 Italy officially relinquished all claims to the territory. On November 21, 1949, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent and on December 24, 1951 the nation proclaimed itself the United Kingdom of Libya under the rule of King Idris.
 '''Gaddafi Era Libya'''

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 == Libya ==
-The country is today known as the State of Libya (دولة ليبيا); Until 2012, it was officially known as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الإشتراكية العظمى). Berbers were the region's oldest known inhabitants, but it was Phoenicians who first colonized the region from Tyre (in [[Lebanon]]), by establishing trading posts along the coast. The largest of these colonies, Carthage, became the center of a great Punic culture and the Carthaginian Empire that spread across much of North Africa. Greek cities were also established along the coast between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, although they faced incursions from Carthage, Egypt, and Persia. Carthage was ultimately defeated by Rome during the Punic Wars, after which the three regions of Libya became a Roman province during the 1st century BCE and remained such until the decline of the Roman Empire in 5th century CE. The region would then be routed by the Vandals, and in the 6th century CE would become a part of the Byzantine Empire.
+This country is today known as the State of Libya (دولة ليبيا); until 2012, it was officially known as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الإشتراكية العظمى) for most of the 20th century. Berbers were the region's oldest known inhabitants, but it was Phoenicians who first colonized the region from Tyre (in [[Lebanon]]), by establishing trading posts along the coast. The largest of these colonies, Carthage, became the center of a great Punic culture and the Carthaginian Empire that spread across much of North Africa. Greek cities were also established along the coast between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, although they faced incursions from Carthage, Egypt, and Persia. Carthage was ultimately defeated by Rome during the Punic Wars, after which the three regions of Libya became a Roman province during the 1st century BCE and remained such until the decline of the Roman Empire in 5th century CE. The region would then be routed by the Vandals, and in the 6th century CE would become a part of the Byzantine Empire.
 While Byzantium controlled much of the coast, Arab Islamic armies conquered the regions of the Libyan interior during the 7th century and ultimately wrested control of the remaining cities from the Byzantines. Over the course of the following centuries, Libya came under the rule of several Islamic dynasties, although Berber tribes continued to offer resistance in defense of their traditional life ways. A Norman invasion from Sicily in the 12th century weakened the Arab hold on Libya, and by the 16th century the lands were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire which maintained control until the early 20th century.

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 [[File:libya-darkwoodland.png|200px]]
-* Libyan National Army personnel again trained in [[Turkey]] in 2021, and graduates of the Special Forces course were given the newly issued Turkish Army's M2021 pattern arid camouflage uniform.
+* Libyan Army (not LNA) personnel again trained in [[Turkey]] in 2021, and graduates of the Special Forces course were given the newly issued Turkish Army's M2021 pattern arid camouflage uniform.
 [[File:libya-turkisharid.png|200px]]

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 == Libya ==
-Until 2012, Libya was officially known as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الإشتراكية العظمى). Berbers were the region's oldest known inhabitants, but it was Phoenicians who first colonized the region from Tyre (in [[Lebanon]]), by establishing trading posts along the coast. The largest of these colonies, Carthage, became the center of a great Punic culture and the Carthaginian Empire that spread across much of North Africa. Greek cities were also established along the coast between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, although they faced incursions from Carthage, Egypt, and Persia. Carthage was ultimately defeated by Rome during the Punic Wars, after which the three regions of Libya became a Roman province during the 1st century BCE and remained such until the decline of the Roman Empire in 5th century CE. The region would then be routed by the Vandals, and in the 6th century CE would become a part of the Byzantine Empire.
+The country is today known as the State of Libya (دولة ليبيا); Until 2012, it was officially known as the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الإشتراكية العظمى). Berbers were the region's oldest known inhabitants, but it was Phoenicians who first colonized the region from Tyre (in [[Lebanon]]), by establishing trading posts along the coast. The largest of these colonies, Carthage, became the center of a great Punic culture and the Carthaginian Empire that spread across much of North Africa. Greek cities were also established along the coast between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, although they faced incursions from Carthage, Egypt, and Persia. Carthage was ultimately defeated by Rome during the Punic Wars, after which the three regions of Libya became a Roman province during the 1st century BCE and remained such until the decline of the Roman Empire in 5th century CE. The region would then be routed by the Vandals, and in the 6th century CE would become a part of the Byzantine Empire.
 While Byzantium controlled much of the coast, Arab Islamic armies conquered the regions of the Libyan interior during the 7th century and ultimately wrested control of the remaining cities from the Byzantines. Over the course of the following centuries, Libya came under the rule of several Islamic dynasties, although Berber tribes continued to offer resistance in defense of their traditional life ways. A Norman invasion from Sicily in the 12th century weakened the Arab hold on Libya, and by the 16th century the lands were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire which maintained control until the early 20th century.
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 Under Muammar Gaddafi, Libya strongly promoted pan-Arabism (الوحدة العربية), fueled in part by Nasserism coming through neighboring [[Egypt]], as well as the Ba'athism of [[Syria]] and [[Iraq]]. Throughout the 1970s, Gaddafi made several attemps to merge Arab nations together, including the Federation of Arab Republics (Libya, Egypt and Syria), which lasted between 1972 and 1977.
-Historically supportive of Arab nationalist and sovereignty movements, Libya was a vocal proponent of the [[Palestine|PLO]] goal of liberating Palestine, and it is believed a number of training camps for international terrorist organizations were at one time sponsored in Libya. Gaddafi also supported the Lebanese Nationalist Movement (الحركة الوطنية اللبنانية) during the Lebanese Civil War, funneling around $100 million to Lebanese Shia causes. Around 500 Libyan troops were sent to [[Lebanon]] in 1976 as part of an Arab peacekeeping force. Libya has also intervened militarily in [[Chad]] on several occasions, but would ultimately be defeated and expelled during the Toyota War (December 16, 1986 to September 11, 1987). Insofar as camouflage goes, it is worth noting that, throughout most of Gaddafi's reign, the standard combat uniform of the Libyan Army was solid olive green; camouflage was reserved for units with special status - airborne troops, special forces ("lightning troops"), and loyalist personnel like the Revolutionary Guard Corps .
+Historically supportive of Arab nationalist and sovereignty movements, Libya was a vocal proponent of the [[Palestine|PLO]] goal of liberating Palestine, and it is believed a number of training camps for international terrorist organizations were at one time sponsored in Libya. Gaddafi also supported the Lebanese Nationalist Movement (الحركة الوطنية اللبنانية) during the Lebanese Civil War, funneling around $100 million to Lebanese Shia causes. Around 500 Libyan troops were sent to [[Lebanon]] in 1976 as part of an Arab peacekeeping force. Libya has also intervened militarily in [[Chad]] on several occasions, but Libyans were ultimately rousted during the Toyota War (December 16, 1986 to September 11, 1987). Insofar as camouflage goes, it is worth noting that, throughout most of Gaddafi's reign, the standard combat uniform of the Libyan Army was solid olive green; camouflage was reserved for units with special status - airborne troops, special forces ("lightning troops"), and loyalist personnel like the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
 Muammar Gaddafi played a prominent role in creating the African Union (AU), established in 2002, and in February 2009 was selected to be chairman for a year. Among the objectives of the AU are to achieve peace and security in Africa; and to promote democratic institutions, good governance and human rights. To this end, the AU has provided both intervention and peacekeeping forces to various nations in Africa.
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 Ali Zeidan was sworn in as Prime Minister of Libya on 14 November 2012, but the country was far from stable, as Islamist elements engaged in numerous acts of vandalism, destruction of heritage sites, and the well-publicized attack on the [[USA|American diplomatic compound]] on 11 September 2012. Zeidan was ousted by a parliamentary committee of the General National Congress (GNC) on 14 March 2014, and within two months, factional fighting between tribal militias and jihadist paramilitaries plunged the country into a Second Libyan Civil War. In June, new elections were held to elect a House of Representatives that would replace the GNC; however, the election was poorly attended & marred by violence, and the GNC refused to honor the election results. The country faced a stalement as the rival Tobruk-based House of Representatives and the Tripoli-based General National Congress could not come to agreement over who was the rightful government of the nation.
-Despite attempts by international mediaries to broker a peaceful solution, terrorist acts increased throughout the country, and jihadists established an Islamic State in Libya when they seized power in Dirna and Sirte. Each faction had its own loyalist supporters internally, as well as external powers. During this time, the Armed Forces were effectively split into loyalists that supported the HoR (Libyan National Army, with elements of the Air Force and Navy) and those that supported the GNA (Libyan Army/Ground Forces, Libyan Air Force, and Libyan Navy), bolstered by numerous armed paramilitaries and militias on each side. To confuse matters further, a third rival government was formed by disgruntled politicians who left the GNC, calling itself the National Salvation Government; this was supported militarily by its own private militias. Several Islamist groups also joined in the fighting during this time, including the Islamic State - Libya Province (ولاية ليبيا), Al-Queda in the Islamic Maghreb (تنظيم القاعدة في بلاد المغرب الإسلامي), and the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (مجلس شورى ثوار بنغازي). The war lasted for six years, from May 2014 until a ceasefire was ratified in October 2020; the Government of National Unity (حكومة الوحدة الوطنية) was established in April 2021 to bring the two primary factions together into one government.
+Despite attempts by international mediaries to broker a peaceful solution, terrorist acts increased throughout the country, and jihadists established an Islamic State in Libya when they seized power in Dirna and Sirte. Each faction had its own loyalist supporters internally, as well as external powers. During this time, the Armed Forces were effectively split into loyalists that supported the HoR (Libyan National Army, with elements of the Air Force and Navy) and those that supported the GNA (Libyan Army/Ground Forces, Libyan Air Force, and Libyan Navy), bolstered by numerous armed paramilitaries and militias on each side. To confuse matters further, a third rival government was formed by disgruntled politicians who left the GNC, calling itself the National Salvation Government; this was supported militarily by its own private militias. The Libyan Shield Force (قوة درع ليبيا) took shape beginning in 2012 and is composed primarily of Islamist militias operating around Benghazi and near Tripoli; there are four major branches, some of which are loyal to the GNC. Several other Islamist groups also joined in the fighting around 2012, including the Islamic State - Libya Province (ولاية ليبيا), Al-Queda in the Islamic Maghreb (تنظيم القاعدة في بلاد المغرب الإسلامي), and the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (مجلس شورى ثوار بنغازي). The war lasted for six years, from May 2014 until a ceasefire was ratified in October 2020; the Government of National Unity (حكومة الوحدة الوطنية) was established in April 2021 to bring the two primary factions together into one government. Many of the Islamist elements from the war, however, continue to launch terrorist attacks against the more pro-Western and pro-Democratic forces.
 Since 2021, the Libyan Armed Forces ( القوات المسلحة الليبية) are the internationally accepted military forces in charge of defense of the nation. They comprise the Libyan Army (Ground Forces), the Libyan Air Force, and the Libyan Navy, and are estimated at approximately 35,000 personnel. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Libya (وزارة الداخلية الليبية) was created in 2011 and continues to function as the primary internal security agency of the nation. The Ministry is directly controlled by the Government of National Unity.

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 [[File:libya-digitaldesert.png|200px]]
-* A copy of the Trademarked commercial camouflage by Kryptek has been adopted by undetermined Libyan security force units circa 2017-18. Although based around the original Kryptek design, the coloration appears to vary a bit from any of the designs produced by that US-based company.
+* A copy of the Trademarked commercial camouflage by Kryptek has been in service by undetermined Libyan security force units since 2015. Although based around the original Kryptek design, the coloration appears to vary a bit from any of the designs produced by that US-based company and is most likely sourced in China.
 [[File:Libyakryptek.jpg|200px]]

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 * As sourcing for military equipment has expanded, competing Asian contractors have offered different versions of the "pixelated desert" camouflage design based on the original desert MARPAT pattern. The variation seen here, having a more yellowish-tone that versions seen in the 2012-2013 period, has appeared in the 2019-2021 period, although it may have been in the supply system earlier.
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 [[File:libya11.jpg|200px]]
-== Foreign and Unofficial Camouflage Worn by Libyan Forces ==
+== Foreign, Short-Lived, and Unofficial Camouflage Worn by Libyan Forces ==
 * During the Toyota War period some Libyan personnel were observed wearing the Belgian-inspired [[puzzle|jigsaw]] camouflage design issued in [[Chad]]. It is almost certain these were simply captured uniforms, and their usage does not seem to be widespread.
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 * Circa 2013, a unit identified as "Commandos" (presumably of the Ministry of Interior Federal Police), were observed wearing uniforms in the same camouflage design worn by the [[Turkey|Turkish]] Police Anti-Terrorism and Operations Department ''(POH),'' having black & brown shapes with olive green & greyish-green background. This must have been a one-time issue of the pattern, as subsequently no additional use has been documented.