On October 20, 2011, Muammar Gaddafi, former leader of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, died at the age of 69. Gaddafi had come to power on 1 September 1969, following a military coup which overthrew the reigning monarch, King Idris I. Governed under Gaddafi’s unique form of direct, participatory democracy, the country’s official name changed to the ‘Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya’. During his 42-year rule, Muammar Gaddafi oversaw political, economic and cultural initiatives and reforms designed to improve the quality of life for the people of Libya. Gaddafi had a complex and oftentimes contentious relationship with the international community. In 2003 he renounced the development of weapons of mass destruction, leading to a gradual warming in the country’s diplomatic ties with other countries. However, Gaddafi’s words and actions did not always align, leading to continued scrutiny and criticism from foreign governments. Gaddafi’s rule ended on 20 October 2011 as the result of a popular uprising. In the wake of the conflict and international intervention, he was deposed, and his death was a result of clashes that ensued. He is survived by seven sons and two daughters.