Editing Muammar Gaddafi (section)

===Allies and enemies===
During the [[Cold War]], Gaddafi developed strong ties to the Soviet Union and cultivated alliances with [[Idi Amin]] of Uganda (with Libya supporting Uganda during their war with Tanzania) and [[Hafez al-Assad]] of Syria during this time period, though his relations with Amin would sour later on. In 1980, Gaddafi and Assad proposed a political union, with Libya promising to pay off Syria's £1 billion debt to the Soviet Union; although pressures led Assad to pull out, they remained allies. He also sided with Palestine in the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel and forged an alliance with Palestine Liberation Organization leader [[Yasser Arafat]]<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/1987/0325/ofat.html INTERVIEW WITH PLO CHIEF. Arafat regains Qaddafi's support. Libyan leader joins in quest for Palestinian unity], ''The Christian Science Monitor''</ref>, but this alliance later collapsed when Gaddafi came to believe that Arafat was "too moderate" towards Israel, preferring more violent action. It has been rumored that Gaddafi funded the [[Black September]] group and aided them in carrying out the [[Munich Massacre]].<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-04-20/ty-article/the-libyan-connection-new-report-highlights-gadhafis-role-in-munich-massacre/00000180-655e-d5b7-a3e3-f75fd4210000 New Report Highlights Libya's Role in Munich Massacre of Israeli Athletes], ''Haaretz''</ref><ref name = Israel>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-his-last-days-gaddafi-turned-to-israel-for-help-report/ In his last days, Gaddafi reportedly turned to Israel for help, was spurned], ''The Times of Israel''</ref>

Libya had long supported the [[FROLINAT]] militia in neighbouring Chad, and in December 1980, re-invaded Chad at the request of the FROLINAT-controlled GUNT government to aid in the [[Civil War|civil war]]; in January 1981, Gaddafi suggested a political merger. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) rejected this and called for a Libyan withdrawal, which came about in November 1981. The civil war resumed, and so Libya sent troops back in, clashing with French forces who supported the southern Chadian forces lead by [[Hissène Habré]].<ref name = Chad>[https://www.sealionpress.co.uk/post/forgotten-conflict-the-libyan-chadian-war Forgotten Conflicts: The Libyan-Chadian War], ''Sea Lion Press''</ref>

Many African nations were tired of Libya's interference in their affairs; by 1980, nine African states had severed diplomatic relations with Libya, while in 1982 the OAU cancelled its scheduled conference in Tripoli to prevent Gaddafi gaining chairmanship. Some African states, such as [[Jerry Rawlings]]' Ghana and [[Thomas Sankara]]'s Burkina Faso, nevertheless had warm relations with Libya during the 1980s. Proposing political unity with Morocco, in August 1984, Gaddafi and Moroccan monarch [[Hassan II of Morocco|Hassan II]] signed the Oujda Treaty, forming the Arab–African Union; such a union was considered surprising due to the strong political differences and longstanding enmity that existed between the two governments. Relations remained strained, particularly due to Morocco's friendly relations with the US and Israel; in August 1986, Hassan abolished the union.<ref>[https://northafricapost.com/16081-morocco-libya-gaddafi-plotted-assassinate-hassan-ii-cia-reveals.html Morocco-Libya: Gaddafi Plotted to Assassinate Hassan II, CIA Reveals], ''The North Africa Post''</ref>

Gaddafi was also an outspoken opponent of [[Apartheid]] and was a strong supporter of Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress. He became such a strong supporter of the ANC that Mandela later named one of his grandsons Zondwa Gaddafi Mandela.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/12/10/the-last-great-liberator-why-mandela-made-and-stayed-friends-with-dictators/ ‘The last great liberator’: Why Mandela made and stayed friends with dictators], ''The Washington Post''</ref>

It is also known that his regime tortured and murdered former officer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_Muhayshi Umar Muhayshi] in January 1984 who survived more than one assassination attempt.