Six years since Muammar Gaddafi was killed – photos, facts and quotes

October 20, 2011 was the day on which longtime Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was deposed. Six years on, news about the north African country has been a mixture of chaos and anarchy despite global efforts to put it back on track.

Six years after he was captured and killed in his home town of Sirte, we look at some highlights of his reign and present a dozen pictures that chronicle his time as leader of Libya.

Local rebel groups were aided by western forces, specifically, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to overthrow the man who had ruled Libya for close to five decades.

Today, Libya is split between rivals governments ruling different parts of the oil rich country. Insurgent group ISIS until recently had seized parts of Sirte only driven out by a government fightback.

‘‘We are in a period that is much worse than the last, and Libya is threatened with extinction,” said one resident in 2016.

“After the previous regime fell, we hoped that with the will of God, things would be better because we expect a lot from our country.

“We hope that those who love their country will unite for reconciliation, to create national reconciliation. It’s the only way for the country to be built, God willing,” said another resident.

Five facts about Gaddafi

• He was captured and killed in his hometown of Sirte, he was born in the same place on 7 June 1942.
• He attended the Libyan military academy and also received training in Greece and the United Kingdom
• He seized power after a coup d’etat on September 1, 1969. He promoted himself from ‘‘Captain’‘ to ‘‘Colonel’‘ after the coup.
• He married twice and had seven sons and a daughter.
• He developed what he called the third universal theory which is expounded in his infamous ‘‘Green Book’ published in 1975.

Muammar Gaddafi of Libya – October 20, 2011

One of the most flamboyant and controversial political leaders of the last century, Gaddafi’s rise and fall is the subject of much debate till date.

He was killed by rebel forces that captured him in his hometown of Sirte following a NATO-backed revolution in 2011. It was widely thought that his son, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, was going to be his successor but with his father killed, Saif is the subject of local and international court summons.

Came to power: 1969 through a bloodless coup, ruled for 42 years and was killed at age 69.

Took over from: King Idris I who at the time was seeking medical attention in Turkey

Succeeded by: No successor as yet, Libya is divided between political factions after Gaddafi was shot dead in 2011 by rebels.