Libya’s national museum, housed in the historic Red Castle fortress and known as As-Saraya Al-Hamra, reopened Friday in the capital of Tripoli, marking the first public access to its vast collection of ancient treasures since the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
The ceremony, attended by government officials and local residents, featured fireworks and cultural performances as Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah symbolically opened the doors.
“The reopening of the National Museum is not just a cultural moment but a live testimony that Libya is building its institutions,” al-Dbeibah said during the event.
The museum, Libya’s largest, closed amid the NATO-backed revolt in 2011. Gaddafi had delivered a defiant speech from the castle’s ramparts as protests escalated into armed conflict.
Renovations began in March 2023 under the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, which took power in 2021 through a United Nations-backed process aimed at ending years of division.
A Vast Collection Spanning Millennia
Spanning more than 10,000 square meters of gallery space, the museum displays mosaics, murals, sculptures, coins and artifacts from prehistoric times through Greek, Roman and Islamic eras.
Standout exhibits include millennia-old mummies recovered from ancient sites in southern Libya’s Uan Muhuggiag and Jaghbub near the Egyptian border.
Museum director Fatima Abdullah Ahmed said the initial phase will prioritize school visits, with full public opening expected early next year.
“We’re focusing on enabling schools to visit the museum during this period,” Ahmed told reporters.
Efforts to Recover Looted Artifacts
The reopening highlights ongoing work to repatriate artifacts looted or smuggled after Gaddafii’s fall.
Mohamed Farj Shakshoki, chairman of the antiquities department, said Libya has recovered 21 items from countries including France, Switzerland and the United States.
In 2022, nine pieces — funerary stone heads, urns and pottery — were returned from the U.S. Talks continue for more than two dozen artifacts held in Spain and others in Austria.
Signs of Cultural Recovery Amid Challenges
Libya is home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites, all previously listed as endangered due to conflict. In July, the ancient oasis city of Ghadames was removed from the danger list following security improvements.
The museum’s revival comes as the oil-rich North African nation navigates political divisions between the western government and rival authorities in the east.
Despite persistent instability, officials and residents view the reopening as a step toward preserving national heritage and fostering unity.
For many Libyans, the return of access to these treasures represents resilience after more than a decade of turmoil.
