صفي الدين السنوسي ودوره في الجهاد الليبي 1914 - 1923 م

Abstract

This research, has explored one of the members of the Sonousi family, Safei Al-deen
Al-sonousi, whom was a brother of the great warrior Ahmed Alshareef Al-sonousi,
which attempted to shed light on his role in the Libyan jihad from 1914-1923. During
that period he was placed in many administrative, political as well as jihadist
positions. In 1914 he became a deputy on behalf of his brother Ahmed Alshareef in
leading the western regions of cyrenaica. Within that period, he moved on towards
the outskirts of the city of Sirte, located at western Libya, to support the Libyan
jihadists in order to fight the Italian invaders. In 1915,he led the famous garthabeeya
battle in which he had previously planned and prepared along with Ramadan
Alswaihly ,Ahmed Saif Al-nasr along with other jihadists, , and with motivation of
the jihadists, it was later proven that this battle had a clear affect in liberating most of
the western Libyan cities ,which finally led to the withdrawal of the Italian forces
towards the Libyan coast, abandoning their positions within the cities, without any
resistance.
After that battle, and with a request from Idrees Alsonousi ,Safei Al-deen
returned to Cyrenaica. who later held him responsible of Cyrenaica's affairs after the
death of Ahmed Al-shareef. There, Idress Al-sonousi had great trust and relayed
upon him as well as seeking his advice, Idrees later assigned Safei to lead and
organise the eastern affairs of Cyrenaica from 1917 till 1920.
In 1921, and after the founding of different military troops in Cyrenaica ,Safei
Al-deen Alsonousi became commander of those troops. During that time he also
became the head of Cyrenaica parliament till he resigned in October 1922, in protest
against the Italian governor in Cyrenaica. During 1917,he also sought to resolve
many of the conflicts amongst the Cyrenaica tribes and which he succeeded in doing
so with most.
Finally ,Idrees Al-Sonousi assigned him as his deputy to organize the jihad at
western Libya, and despite him travelling to the west in march 1923 in an attempt to
organize the jihad as well as gathering the leaders along with the jihadist to unify
their forces in one camp, by that time, it was too late and the Italians had already
occupied a number of cities across the west, and along with the lack of understanding
that occurred amongst the leaders in that camp as well as abandoning him and
returning to their cities, all that led to the breakdown of their solidarity movement,
which called for Safei Al-deen to return to Cyrenaica, staying in Jalu ,then settling
down in Jaghboob till he departed to Egypt in December 1925.