Sabha, Libya

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator.

Sabha or Sebha Template:IPAc-en (Template:Langx) is an oasis city in southwestern Libya,[1] approximately Script error: No such module "convert". south of Tripoli.[2] It was historically the capital of the Fezzan region and the Fezzan-Ghadames Military Territory and is the capital of the Sabha District.[3] Sabha Air Base, south of the city, is a Libyan Air Force installation that is home to multiple MiG-25 aircraft.[4]

Sabha was where the erstwhile ruler of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, grew up and received secondary education and where he also later became involved in political activism.[5] After the Libyan Civil War and the resultant instability in the country, Sabha reportedly grew in importance as a slave auctioning town.[6] However, an investigation by the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) revealed that while there was illegal slavery, reports were exaggerated, as slave auctions were rare and not made public.[7] The city was seized by forces loyal to the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its leader Khalifa Haftar in January 2019,[8][9] but some politicians in the area switched their loyalty to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in May 2020.[10]

History

In historical times, Sabha was a major centre of the Libyan caravan trade.[11] Sabha Oasis, near Sabha, was the test site of OTRAG rockets, after launching was no longer possible in Shaba North in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). On 1 March 1981, an OTRAG rocket with a maximum height of Script error: No such module "convert". was launched. It was also a remote test site for the Soviet Space program from 1984 to 1991.[12]

In a 2004 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Sabha base was linked with Libya's nuclear weapons program.[13] In September 2011, Anti-Gaddafi forces seized Sabha as part of the Fezzan campaign.[14] No sign of a nuclear weapons program was found.

In April 2017, BBC reported that there was a slave market for African migrants in Sabha.[15]

In January 2019, forces loyal to LNA leader Khalifa Haftar launched an operation to take control of Sabha and were able to enter the city by the end of the month.[8] On 29 January 2019, it was announced that Haftar successfully captured Sabha.[9] In February 2019, Haftar's forces were spotted patrolling the city's neighborhoods.[16][9] By May 2, 2020, politicians and activists loyal to the Tripoli-based government had announced their support of the GNA,[10] and the city is currentlyScript error: No such module "Unsubst". under the control of pro-GNA municipal governments.[17]

Climate

Sabha
Climate chart (explanation)
Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header Template:Climate chart/month header
 
 
7
 
 
19
5
 
 
0
 
 
22
7
 
 
10
 
 
26
11
 
 
7
 
 
32
16
 
 
1
 
 
36
20
 
 
0
 
 
39
24
 
 
0
 
 
38
23
 
 
0
 
 
38
23
 
 
0
 
 
36
21
 
 
0
 
 
31
17
 
 
1
 
 
25
11
 
 
1
 
 
20
6
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [18][19]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.3
 
 
66
41
 
 
0
 
 
72
45
 
 
0.4
 
 
79
52
 
 
0.3
 
 
90
61
 
 
0
 
 
97
68
 
 
0
 
 
102
75
 
 
0
 
 
100
73
 
 
0
 
 
100
73
 
 
0
 
 
97
70
 
 
0
 
 
88
63
 
 
0
 
 
77
52
 
 
0
 
 
68
43
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Due to its location in the Sahara Desert, Sabha has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh), with mild winters with a high diurnal temperature variation, very hot summers with temperatures reaching Script error: No such module "convert". regularly and hardly any precipitation. The average annual mean temperature is Script error: No such module "convert"., the average annual high temperature is Script error: No such module "convert". and the average annual low temperature is Script error: No such module "convert".. June is the hottest month, having the highest average high at Script error: No such module "convert"., the highest mean at Script error: No such module "convert". and the highest average low at Script error: No such module "convert".. January is the coldest month, with the lowest average high at Script error: No such module "convert"., lowest mean at Script error: No such module "convert". and lowest average low at Script error: No such module "convert"..

Sabha receives just Script error: No such module "convert". of rain over 2.9 precipitation days, with a no rain in July and August and extremely little precipitation during the rest of the year. October, the wettest month, receives Script error: No such module "convert". of rainfall over 0.6 precipitation days. Humidity is low throughout the year, with April having a humidity of just 22% and January having a humidity of 42%. Sabha receives abundant amounts of sunshine, with 3526 hours of sunshine annually on average, with the most sunshine in summer and the least in winter. July receives the most sunshine of any month with 375 hours on average, while December and February both receive the least with 252 hours.

Script error: No such module "weather box".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Landmarks

File:سبها المدينة القديمة.jpg
Contrast between the size of the ancient city of Sabha and modern city.

Sabha is famous for the Fort Elena castle,[20] which is the castle featured on the reverse of the ten dinars banknote of Libya. Fort Elena was previously known as Fortezza Margherita, built during the Italian colonial period. Currently the Italian-built fort is a military institution.[21] Sabha University is situated in the city. It has been involved with field studies in the desert.[22] There are numerous irrigation canals, which are used to provide freshwater for growing crops.[11]

Transport

The city is served by Sabha Airport, which underwent expansion in the late 1970s.[23] An Script error: No such module "convert". long railway has been proposed from Sabha to the port of Misrata for iron ore transport.[24]

Reports of slave auctions

In 2017, The United Nations Migration Agency reported that Sabha had turned into a modern-day slave auctioning town. Each slave (mostly migrants from countries to the south of Libya, especially Nigeria) was sold for around US$325, with reports up to 1000 such sales each month.[25] While this aspect of Sabha had been kept under check during the reign of Muammar Gaddafi, it raised its head again due to the turbulence in Libya caused by the civil war. Most of the migrants came here escaping equally tragic conditions back home in Burkina Faso, Nigeria and other neighbouring African countries.[6] However, the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) revealed that the media reports of slavery were exaggerated and that slave auctions were not public, as suggested by CNN.[7] The slave auctions which were discovered were revealed to be rare.[7]

See also

Script error: No such module "Portal".

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Walt, Vivienne. "The Capture of Gaddafi's Son: The Reformer Who Refused to Reform Template:Webarchive." TIME. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Libya: Ministry of Defense: Air Force: Air Order of Battle Template:Webarchive GlobalSecurity.org
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Griffiths, Katherine (2007) "Libya stalls on pledge to destroy stock of uranium" The Daily Telegraph 13 August 2007, p. 16
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  19. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  20. ↑ Martin, B. G. (1984) "Ahmad Rasim Pasha and the Fazzan Slave Trade, 1881-1896" pp. 64-65 in Willis, John Ralph (ed.) (1984) Slaves and Slavery in Muslim Africa: The Servile Estate Cass, London, pp. 51-82, Template:ISBN
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Xinhua News Agency (2008) "Chinese win Libya rail bidding" International Herald Tribune 19 February 2008, Finance Section, p. 13
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Sabha District Template:District capitals of Libya Script error: No such module "Coordinates".

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Sabha,_Libya&oldid=6163809"