Maummar Gaddafi's Stronghold to Become an Amusement Park ~Libyan Tourism Minister

Libyan Tourism Minister revealed that the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi’s residence will be turned into an amusement park. The seat of the ex-leader’s power was reduced to rubble by NATO bombardment and has since been occupied by squatters.

Work is ongoing in earnest to clear the rubble from the ruins of Bab al-Aziziya, which has since been a black spot in Tripoli and a source of concern for residents according to the Tourist Minister, Ikram Basha Imam on Tuesday. She went on to say the space will be converted into “a green area and an amusement” for the entertainment of Libyan families. Moreover, eight private enterprises have already signed contracts for the site’s development Basha Imam said.

When speaking on the squatters that took up residence in the ruins of the former sprawling complex, she said social services were currently searching for new homes for them. The massive compound which served as a military base for Gaddafi was a key bombing target for the NATO 2011 aerial campaign against the former leader. Rebels stormed the fortress on August 23 after guards surrendered aided by NATO aerial cover in a no-fly-zone-turned-invasion scenario. The site was subsequently completely ransacked and vandalized by them.

Premises of high-profile NATO’s enemies are gradually emerging into tourist zones. Pakistani officials announced plans to build a recreation complex with a zoo, paragliding club and water sports facilities in the town where the former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by US navy seals in 2011. Since the 2003 US invasion of  Iraq, the government is still trying to secure international investments to turn some 70 abandoned villas and palaces of Saddam Hussein into tourism sites.

Gaddafi was killed by rebels as he tried to flee to his hometown of Sirte in October of 2011. Libya is still subdued by shackles of unrest and heavily arrested by violence, two years after his demise with the interim government unable to bring the country’s many militia groups under its command. Over the last couple of months locals have clashed with armed militia groups who are a law unto themselves in rural areas of the country. NATO is largely nowhere to be found now.