..Libya - 20 Dinars ND2002 OAU Conference 1999 Commemorative Note

دولة ليبيا 

(State of Libya)

 

مصرف ليبيا المركزي

(Central Bank of Libya)

Currency - Dinar (LYD)

Below, I have added the 20 dinars note, first released in 2002. Initially, this note was issued as a commemorative note, celebrating the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) conference held in Libya in 1999. The official language of Libya is Arabic. These notes are printed in Arabic on both front and back, and on the back, I can see the date of 1999/9/9, which was the second and last day for the conference held. Since 1988, majority of the banknotes were issued with Arabic text on both sides, and then in 2011, it was reverted to English text on the back.

 

Libya hosted a special OAU conference in 1999, in the city of Sirte. Sirte is a coastal town located north of Libya, and is about 460 kilometers east of the capital, Tripoli. Sirte is also the birth place of the late Colonel Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi (b.1942-2011). The OAU meeting was called the Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The conference was held on 8th and 9th of September 1999, and from the meeting, the conference concluded with few declarations adopted, and as such this conference was also referred to as the Sirte Declaration conference. As for the details or discussions from this meeting, I will let you readers to find out via the internet search, and you can read all about it yourselves.

On the second or the last day of the conference, all the leaders of Africa nations came together, and had a group photo taken, and this is depicted on the back of the note. In all, there were 45 individuals took part for the group photo, presumably Presidents and Kings of various African States, including the host, Colonel Muammat Gaddafi, and the former leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Yasser Arafat (b.1929-2004). Unfortunately, for the rest of them, I have no idea who they are. There are some familiar faces, especially those standing in the front row, but I am unable to confirm who they are. It would be great to be able to list all the names here. I have to say that I have not seen any banknotes that have been issued with so many foreign leaders printed on a single note. Please correct me if I am wrong on this. In terms of having so many leaders appearing on a single banknote, this one is hard to beat.

In addition to the above, the design also include the entire African continent with the host country Libya highlighted in green colour. I find the design of this note very impressive, even better than those European Union Euro notes as the design only showing the EU members and not the entire European continent. Of course, nothing can beat the design for the Saudi Arabia 20 riyals 2020 G20 virtual meeting with the entire world depicted on the back of the note (except those Pacific Islander nations). This Saudi note will be hard to beat.

 

The OAU was formed on 25.05.1963 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) with initial 32 founding members. The aim was to foster closure relations with members, and also to resolve any issues within the Africa continent. The founding members were; Algeria, Burundi, Cameron, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Dahomey (now Benin), Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast (now Cote d'Ívoire), Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanganyika (Tanzania and Zanzibar), Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Upper Volta (now Bukina Faso). The organisation was then disbanded on 09.07.2002, and renamed it as, African Union. Today, there are 55 members in the Union. 

 

Below I have uploaded two of the same notes but with difference signatures. The first one was reportedly issued in 2002, and bear the governor's signature of Dr Ahmed M Muneisi Abdel-Hamid. The second note is a reprint of the first issue, and have the signature of Farhat Omar Bengdara. It is not sure when this reprint was issued but if I have to guess, it would be around after he took office or sometime in 2007, as another 20 dinars with similar design was issued in 2009.

Twenty Dinars

Partial map of Libya, with details of the Great Man-Made River of Libya

Front - Partial map of Libya, with details of the Great Man-Made River of Libya. This was a huge project, and construction was first started in 1984, with the first fresh water delivered/arriving in September 1989 at Ajdabiya reservoir (northeastern of Libya). However, due to Libya's civil war, which started in February 2011, this project was disrupted, and until today, it is still unfinished. If completed, the project would supply fresh water from south of Libya to the rest of the country. This would be the world's largest irrigation project if it was completed. The drawing on the note illustrated the flow of fresh water to various reservoirs, and this project was divided into 5 phases. The entire project would have cost the country around US$25 billion, and all was to be funded by the government without any external funding required. Needless to say, this is now one big failed project as it came to a complete halt when the civil war started in February 2011. Many of these so called stations controlled water centers are now either damaged or dismantled due to neglect caused by the civil wars. 

Signature - Dr Ahmed M Muneisi Abdel-Hamid (tenure 2001-2006)

Watermark - Omar El Mukhtar

Dimensions - 167.5mm x 89mm

 

Back - 45 representatives of Heads of State/Government/Leaders standing for a group photo shot. Next to it is the outline map of the continent of Africa, with the map of Libya shaded in light green colour. 

45 Heads of State/Government, Africa continent

Twenty Dinars (Reprint)

Partial map of Libya, Great Man-Made Water project of Libya

 

This is the reprint, presumably issued in or around 2007.

 

Signature - Farhat Omar Bengdara (tenure 2006-2011)

Watermark - Omar El Mukhtar

 Dimensions - 167mm x 89mm

Group photo of African Leaders taken on 09.09.1999

Footnote

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya for more than 42 years. He came to power on 01.09.1969, when he led a group of army officers, and overthrown the then Libyan King Idris (b.1890-1983), while the King was visiting Turkey. King Idris reigned Libya from 1951 to 1969 until he was deposed. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was only 27 years old when he took control of the country. After 42 years and 50 days in power, the Colonel was captured, and killed on 20.10.2011 by the anti government force during the Libya First Civil war which started on 17.02.2011. The war ended on 23.10.2011, but not united as the country is controlled by two main opposing groups.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi

1st right - El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba President of Gabon

2nd right - Yahya Jammeh President of Gambia

Below are the Kings and Presidents of African countries as at 9th September 1999.

Algeria - President Abdelaziz Bouleflike (tenure 27.04.1999-02.04.2019);

Angelo - President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos (tenure 21.09.1979-25.09.2017);

Benin - President Mathieu Kerekou (tenure 04.04.1996-06.04.2006);

Botswana - President Festus Gontebanye Mogae (tenure 01.04.1998-01.04.2008;

Burkina Faso - President Blaise Compaore (tenure 15.10.1987-31.10.2014);

Burundi - President Pierre Buyoya (tenure 25.07.1996-30.04.2003);

Cabo Verde - President Antonio Manuel Mascarenhas Gomes Monteiro (tenure 22.03.1991-22.03.2001);

Cameron - President Paul Biya (tenure since 06.11.1982);

Central Africa Republic - President Ange-Flex Patasse (tenure 22.10.1993-15.03.2003);

Chad - President Lt General Idriss Deby (tenure 02.12.1990-20.04.2021);

Comoros - President Azali Assoumani (tenure 30.04.1999-21.01.2002);

Republic of Congo - President Denis Sassou-Nguesso (tenure since 25.10.1997 );

Democratic Republic of Congo - President Laurent-Desire Kabila (tenure 17.05.1997-16.01.2001);

Cote d'Ívoire - President Henri Konan Bedie (tenure 07.12.1993-24.12.1999);

Djibouti - President Ismail Omar Guelleh (tenure since 08.05.1999);

Egypt - President Hosni Mubarak (tenure 14.10.1981-11.02.2011);

Equatorial Guinea - President Brig. Gen. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (tenure since 03.08.1979)

Eritrea - President Isaias Afworki (tenure since 24.05.1993);

Ethiopia - President Negasso Gidada (tenure 22.08.1995-08.10.2001);

Gabon - President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (tenure 02.12.1967-08.06.2009);

The Gambia - President Yahya Abdul-AzizJemus Junkung Jammeh (tenure 06.11.1996-19.01.2017);

Ghana - President Jerry John Rawlings (tenure 07.01.1993-07.01.2001);

Guinea - President Lansana Conte (tenure 05.04.1984-22.12.2008);

Guinea Bissau - Acting President Malam Bacai Sanha (tenure 14.05.1999-17.02.2000);

Kenya - President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi (tenure 22.08.1978-30.12.2002);

Lesotho - King Letsie lll (since 07.02.1996);

Liberia - President Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor (tenure 02.08.1997-11.08.2003);

Libya - President Col. Muámmar al-Qaddafi (tenure 02.03.1979-20.10.2011);

Madagascar - President Didier Ratsiraka (tenure 09.02.1997-05.07.2002);

Malawi - President Elson Bakili Muluzi (tenure 24.05.1994-24.05.2004);

Mali - President Alpha Oumar Konare (tenure 08.06.1992-08.06.2002);

Mauritania - President Maaouya Ould Taya (tenure 12.12.1984-03.08.2005);

Mauritius - President Cassam Uteem (tenure 30.06.1992-15.02.2002);

Morocco - King Mohamed Vl (since 23.07.1999);

Mozambique - President Joaquim Alberto Chissano (tenure 06.11.1986-02.02.2005);

Namibia - President Sam Nujoma (tenure 21.03.1990-21.03.2005);

Niger - President Daouda Malam Wanke (tenure 11.04.1999-22.12.1999);

Nigeria - President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (tenure 29.05.1999-29.05.2007);

Rwanda - President Pasteur Bizimungu (tenure 19.07.1994-23.03.2000);

Sao Tome & Principe - Pres. Miguel dos Anjos da Cunha Lisboa Trovoada (tenure 21.08.1995-03.09.2001);

Senegal - President Abdou Diouf (tenure 01.01.1981-01.04.2000);

Seychelles - President France-Albert Rene (tenure 05.06.1977-14.07.2004);

Sierra Leone - President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (tenure 06.02.1998-17.09.2007);

Somalia - vacant 03.01.1997 to 27.08.2000;

South Africa - President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (tenure 14.06.1999-24.09.2008);

Sudan - President Field Marshal Omar Hassan al-Bashir (tenure 16.10.1993-11.04.2019);

Swaziland - King Mswati lll (since since 25.04.1986);

Tanzania - President Benjamin William Mkapa (tenure 23.11.1995-21.12.2005);

Togo - President Gnassingbe Eyadema (tenure 14.04.1967-05.02.2005);

Tunisia - President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali (tenure 07.11.1967-14.01.2011);

Uganda - President Lt Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa (tenure since 29.01.1986);

Zambia - President Fredrick Chiluba (tenure 02.11.1991-02.01.2002); and

Zimbabwe - President Robert Gabriel Mugabe (tenure 31.12.1987-21.11.2017);

The above list of names may not be accurate, and I have not confirmed these independently. Also not all the above Presidents or Kings attended the Sirte conference in September 1999 either.