The Libyan Arabs are one of the world’s most unreached population groups.

The Libyan Arabs live mostly in Libya along the Mediterranean coast. There are approximately 3.5 million Libyan Arabs. Their primary Language is a colloquial form of Arabic that is unique to the area around Libya. There seem to be two distinct dialects, and a couple of village and tribal dialects. True Libyan Arabs may have a heritage in the traditions of the nomadic Bedouin, and associate themselves with a particular Bedouin family tribe.

Family life is a strong value for Libyan Arab families. They live in apartment blocks, and various kinds of independent housing units, dependent on their income status. Most of the Arabs who have lived traditionally in tents, and with a nomadic lifestyle have been settled into various towns and cities in Libya, their old way of life fading. It is believed that there are still some who do live as they have for centuries in the desert, though no one knows exactly how many live that way.

Most of the population are engaged in occupations in industry and services, and a small percentage in agriculture. Libya is well-known for rich oil deposits and oil production is a primary income earner, which accounts for possibly 95% of export income.

Although expatriate Christian churches and fellowships are allowed, there are no known churches amongst the Libyan Arabs yet, and very few known believers. Because of a pervasive network of secret police, and a fear of betrayal that would lead to problems with authorities and related persecution, it has not been possible for Libyan Arabs to have their own church. Also there is strong family censorship and control, and fear of ‘what the neighbours will say’.

Most of the people living in Libya have ideas about Christians, but only contact with true Christians can help to rectify the poor images (e.g. immoral, western). Most have not had an opportunity to hear the Gospel in a way that they can understand. Being from a Muslim background, they cannot perceive that they can have a personal, vibrant relationship with the Most High God, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

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Population
Total People: 3.55 million (estimate)
Urban Percent: 82% (1993)
In this Country: 3.5 million (estimate)
Other countries: Malta ca. 6,000

General Description
The name Libya is derived from that of a Berber tribe The Lebu and was the name the Greeks gave to the whole of North Africa, west of Egypt. The original people were ruled in turn by the Greeks, Phoenecians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs, Turks and Italians. Libyans are of mixed Arab and Berber origins.
They are by origin, Bedouin - some who have been urbanised over the centuries, and others only being urbanised in the 20th century. A number of Bedouin tribes make up what we today call the Libyan Arabs.

Language/Literacy Information
Adult literacy: There are various statistics on literacy, which probably is around 70% (64% OW, 1993)
Primary language: Arabic (colloquial) % speakers: 100%
Second language: English % speakers: 20%
Third language: Italian % speakers: 5% (older generation)

Economics
Occupations: 17% of the labour force in agriculture (1987), 30% in industry (1987), 53% in services
Products: Oil (accounts for 95% of export income), Dates, Olives, tobacco, textiles.
Trade Partners: EU, Western Asia, Eastern Europe
Unemployment: Estimated to be between 20-30% (IMF estimate, Reuters, Sept 10, 1999)
Other: The land is sparsely populated and there is a strong dependance on skilled workers from abroad. Around 25% of the workforce come from Egypt, Asia or southern Europe. Numbers of expatriate workers could be over 750,000.
Farming/Agriculture: Barley, wheat, tobacco, cotton and citrus fruits are grown in the area of Tripolitania, and dates, olives, and almonds in the Saharan oases. Behind the coastal plain there is grazing for sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and donkeys. Fishing, natural gas industries and tourism are being developed.
Income sources: 95% of export earnings are from petroleum. Iron deposits exist in the desert.
Products and Crafts: Major export products are crude petroleum, petroleum products and gas.
Trade Partners: International (Trade fairs are held regularly: P.O Box 891, Tripoli)
Modernisation/Utilities: Libya’s leaders have dedicated increasing resources to ‘show-case items’ such as the great Man-Made River project (water resources being piped from the desert to households in Tripoli), which was finished in 1998.
GNP per capita: US$4,876 Income is a lot lower for many. 200 Dinars, being $450 at inflated official rates, and $100 on black market rates. (Source: Reuters article, September 1999)
Other: Foreign investment and tourism is said to be encouraged. Visa’s are not easily obtained for tourists.
During the early 1980s the private sector came under the control of the public economic sector. All factories, stores, businesses were taken over by the state. All homes and apartments that were not lived in by the owner were nationalised. Also, all savings accounts with over US$3,500 were nationalised. Through some domestic reforms, in 1988 businesses were again permitted to operate, with periodical sweeps to close shops and take over houses etc. For many their earnings in wages and salaries are in arrear, often for months. This creates a cycle that is influencing a good number of the population, both expatriates and local people.
There is a prominent black market in Libya, which exchanges foreign currency for more favourable rates than the banks (over 100% more). Plans have been announced to eliminate the black market, but monetary observers state that this will not be possible until the official rate is far more realistic. Eg. US$100 on the black market bringing in excess of 200 Dinars, the official exchange would have been 40 Dinars. A ‘shwarma’ sandwich and a drink costs 10 Dinars, so at the official exchange rates that would cost US$25 (1999). The bank does however now sell at the black market rate for personal use.

Living Conditions/Community Development Status
Basic diet: Cereal (barley, wheat, sorghum), couscous, rice, noodles, lamb, chicken, olives, vegetables
Food: A sizeable amount of Libya’s food is imported. Residents of Libya can buy food supplies at communal food suppliers at very low prices, as food is subsidised by the state.
Shelter: Because of the oil wealth, many new houses were built. Nomads still live in tents.
Clothing: In 1974 an effort was undertaken to make the wearing of traditional dress obligatory, but this was not fully embraced although some people do wear a ‘national’ style of dress. Young people like wearing jeans and modern clothing. Women generally dress in a modest way. Traditional Libyan attire for men is a white jellaba suit, with cotton loose fitting trousers, a long white shirt, a short black waistcoat and white Muslim cap. Women often wear a headscarf in public, in ‘Turkish’ style. If not wearing a headscarf and if they have long hair, they tie their hair back.
Health care: Life expectancy 63 years (1990-95) Healthcare is available for 100% of the population. In the cities there is free medical assistance, although doctors who have not received their salary might require some payment for their services. There is one physician for approximately every 1,450 inhabitants. A high percentage (9 of 10) of the doctors are expatriates (but more Libyans are in training to become doctors to replace these in the future).
Water supplies: 97% of the population have access to safe drinking water according to 1985-87 statistics.
Energy/Fuel: Oil self-sufficiency since the 1960s. Rapid expansion of electricity service. Petroleum is very cheap in Libya.
Other: Libya has tried to use oil revenues to provide every family with free schools and health care. Libyans are increasingly disillusioned with a promised utopia that has not come.

Society
Family structures: There are strong links between the family and the nation. The tribe (qabila) is the basis of the social order. The universal group in the tribal system is the bayt, which may include three or four generations. Organisation is patriarchal, the eldest or most influential male has the supreme authority. The extended family remains important even in the largest urban areas. Qadaffi comes from a Bedouin background where the women are supposedly equal to men. From 1980 birth-control became legal. Women have been ‘liberated‘ by some policies eg. to serve in the army (and trained at the Women’s Military Academy), some women are employed as body guards for Qadaffi. Polygamy is still permitted, and men are limited to up to four wives. Women usually only work in certain jobs such as teaching, secretaries etc. In the business world they are inferior to men.
Neighbour Relations: Attempts have been made to assimilate Berber tribes into the Arab culture, which has some prestige. Berber tribes are those keen to retain their own identity and language, even though they are assimilated amongst the Arabs to some degree.
Rule/Authority/Selection: This republic, independent since 1951, is committed to revolutionary socialism. Qadaffi is the head of State, (known as Brother Leader) although he holds no official post, real authority is exercised by him directly or through the peoples and revolutionary committees. Official authority is vested in the people, with local basic people’s congresses forming an electoral base for the General People’s Congress (equivalent to a council of Ministers or Cabinet). The members of the popular committees are elected in the villages, companies, hospitals etc. Any opposition to the system is quickly stopped. A control is kept on the population by pervasive networks of secret police. The ideology of the state is influenced also by the Green Book written by Qadaffi, with quotations from this book being displayed on billboards in prominent places throughout Libya.
Social habits: The men of the communities will meet one another in the Peoples Committees, young men will meet around soccer fields, drink tea together. Women and girls visit one another’s homes. Because the family is very important, relatives will get together for the common Muslim celebrations. Men and women gather in separate areas to celebrate the event.
Social group: Alongside the tribal unit, several other social groups exist: Sharifs (holy tribes), a religious hierarchy that claims they are direct descendants of Mohammed; Marabouts, men who are credited with supernatural powers.
Cultural Change: ( ) Static ( ) Slow ( ) Medium (X) Rapid
Self Image: ( ) Threatened ( ) Depressed (X) Prestigious/Proud
Judicial system/Trial punishment: The constitution of 1969 established primacy of the Sharia or Islamic law. Civil laws must conform to the Sharia. The Libyan court system consists of four ascending levels. The General People’s Congress appoints justices to the Supreme Court. Military and special revolutionary courts operate outside the judicial system. Beating is common practice by police in jails.
Crisis/Conflicts - History/Status: For most of their history, the peoples of Libya have been subjected to varying degrees of foreign control. One of the last colonial powers was Italy, who brutally subdued the Bedouin and subjected them to starvation in concentration camps in a bid to stop Bedouin groups, led by a man considered to be a national hero, Omar Muktar, from fighting the Italian army, as many of the Arabs resisted Italian colonial influences in their country. Libya became independent in 1951. With the military coup of 1969, Qadaffi proclaimed the new Libyan Arab Republic, or the Libyan Jamahiriya.
Foreign Relations: For several years Qadaffi was working on gaining a form of pan-Arab unity. This was not completely successful. Now Qaddafi has been looking more to African countries, to have a basis of unity within Africa (A United States of Africa) for which he serves in a diplomatic role to promote such ends. Many heads of government have visited Libya. Until the early 90s Libyans were involved in the civil war in neighbouring Chad, and they finally withdrew from the Aouzou strip in the north in 1993. Libya has been associated with terrorist training and acts, but since 1999 they have made statements to create a new image internationally, refuting the old terrorist supporter image. UN sanctions were imposed in 1992 following the refusal to the request for extradition of two Libyans in relation to the bombing of a PanAm jet over Scotland. Sanctions were eased in April 1999. Qadaffi regards any intervention in any Arab or African state by a western state as a form of terrorism. He does not consider himself a terrorist, but instead views his actions as liberating those who are oppressed by outsiders. Diplomatic relations with several countries have been tense over the years. Recently diplomatic relations with the UK have been restored following payment of compensation to families of those killed in incidents for which Libya was deemed responsible.
Art Forms: Poetry (mainly oral). Novels have only been written recently, influenced by western culture. Theatrical expression is limited because of restrictions. All publications are under state control. After the Cultural Revolution of 1974, state organisations were founded, producing films with a political or Islamic content.
Recreation: Because of the increase of wealth, many families have television, video and stereo. Libyan identity is emphasized by the encouragement of traditional music and folkloristic dances.
Media (Radio/TV/Newspapers/Films/Videos/Recordings): 99 TV sets per 1000 inhabitants (1999 L’Etat).
Press: Newspapers and periodicals published by the Jamahiriya News Agency, Press Service and Trade Unions. The main newsletters are Arraid and El Balaq. One well-known quaterly publication is al-Fusu al-Arbaca.
Radio: Is in Arabic, and English by the national (SPLAJ) Broadcasting Corporation.
Television: There is a national Libyan station, which televises news in English, Arabic, Italian and French. Satellite television dishes adorn the rooftops and balconies of many Libyan homes.
Recreation: TV and video are prominent, soccer. Computer technology is a limited but growing interest.
Art forms: Poetry and music.
Festivals: Common Muslim celebrations, horse races, folk dances, annual government celebration of the rise of Qadhafi to power on September 1st.

Children/Youth
Education/Type of Schooling: Education is compulsory through elementary school (7 years). Education is free and available to all. 79.1% remain for secondary education (1991). The main universities are in Benghazi and Tripoli. Other universities in Tarhuna, Sebha, etc. 18% pursue tertiary level education (1991)
Labour/Tasks: Most children go to school now. Even girls get military training while they are studying. Many girls are required to help with household jobs outside school hours.
Problems: Infant mortality rate is 68 per 1,000. Youth have grown up with slogans of progressive reforms from the Green Book plastered on the walls of classrooms and billboards in public places. Yet their loyalties are mixed now that many boys attend universities in Europe and listen to contemporary western music, as well as watching satellite television. (Girls can’t study abroad without the presence of a male relative to protect their reputation). In 1988 there were clashes between Libyan security forces and protesters at the universities in Libya. Unemployment is increasing, and a growing concern, with 20-30% unemployed (IMF estimate 1999)
Greatest needs: Hope and security. Employment, especially for men, as they cannot marry without knowing they can provide for a family.
Other: 50% of the population is under 17

Religion
Sunni Islam is the state religion, but secularising influences are strong. Militant Islamic proponents have been arrested and seen as dissidents, and that form of Islam is officially discouraged. There are tombs of religious men, considered as saints and these sites are visited. Amulets are believed to protect from the influence of the ‘evil eye’, evil spirits etc. Divination is practiced by some.
Religious practices/ceremonies: General Islamic holy days and celebrations.
Redemptive Analogies/Bridges: Analogies common to Muslims.

History of Christian Presence Amongst This People Group
Simon of Cyrene carried the cross of Christ on His way to Golgotha. Cyrenian Jews, present in Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost, were probably responsible for taking the Christian faith back to Libya. After the Arabs overran Cyrenaica in 624 AD Islam soon replaced the Christian faith. The last missionary outpost was closed in 1960. There are churches for expatriates in the major cities, which are given permission to function, but they are not allowed to permit Libyans into their gatherings, nor evangelise amongst the Libyans.

Current Church Development
Scriptures available: Bible - in written form and on casette in North African dialect, and in literary Arabic.
Christian Radio: Broadcasts several times per week.
Satellite television: Clear reception, many watch including children.
Response to Christians: Most people are unaware of what Christians really believe. They have a memory which takes into account the history of the crusades, and more current ‘crusades’. Few have had an opportunity to have the Gospel explained to them, and only have stereotyped ideas of what a Christian is, that aren’t very positive. Most are unaware of the true message of the Gospel.
Attitude to Christian faith: Curious as to what this really means, though the average Libyan Arab would not think that he or she could consider this for themselves. They believe once born an Arab, always a Muslim, therefore it is not possible to consider being a Christian.
Other - on spiritual climate and openness: There are reports of increasing interest in the Gospel, but follow up is hindered because of the situation inside Libya. The country is closed to the open presence of missions. The government is opposed to any form of open missionary work, seeking to ensure that Libyans remain Muslim. There is no known Libyan Arab fellowship of believers as yet. Any Libyan Arab believers may be wary of gathering with other believers due to the pervasive secret policing and the fear of being betrayed, as well as being persecuted and punished for their faith. Safe places are needed for believers to gather. Persecution is very real. There are a number expatriate protestant churches registered with the government. There are Egyptian coptic churches, and around 5 Roman catholic churches, as well as Anglican, Protestant and Greek Orthodox churches. All these churches are required to be registered with the government, and are officially not allowed to evangelise Libyan Muslims.

Current Needs
Libya has opportunities for foreigners to work there. Engineers, technicians for the oil industry, teachers, administrative work.

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