Zuwara Tamurt n Wat Willul
Zuwara Location in Libya
Coordinates: 32°56′N 12°05′E / 32.933°N 12.083°E / 32.933; 12.083
Country	Libya
Municipality	An Nuqat al Khams

Zuwara /zʊˈwɑrə/ (Arabic: زوارة‎ Zuwārah, Berber: Tamurt n Wat Willul, English: Town of the At-Willul) is a port city in northwestern Libya, with a population of 45,000. It is situated 68 miles (109 km) west of Tripoli and 37 miles (60 km) from the Tunisian border. It is the capital of the An Nuqat al Khams shabiyah (municipality). Its population mainly belongs to the Ibadi branch of Islam, and speaks Zuara Berber, a Zenati Berber language.

History

The Berber tribe of Zwara was cited by al-Bakri in the 11th century, together with Louata, Lemaya, Nefusa, Mezata and Zouagha, as a tribe dwelling in the surroundings of the Gulf of Gabès.

The settlement was first mentioned by the traveller al-Tidjani in the years 1306-1309 as Zwara al-saghirah ("Little Zwarah"). In a Catalan sailing manual (1375) it was called as Punta dar Zoyara, it later served as the western outpost of Italian Libya (1912–43), being the terminus of the now-defunct Italian Libya Railway from Tripoli 65 miles (105 km) to the east. Its artificial harbour shelters a motorized fishing fleet. Cereals, dates, and esparto grass (used to make cordage, shoes, and paper) are local products.

Cultural revolution

The town is mentioned by Leo Africanus. It was here in Zuwarah that Muammar al-Gaddafi first proclaimed the Libyan "Cultural Revolution" in 1973.

2011 protests in Zuwarah

In the 2011 Libyan Civil War battles, the city was reported to be under control of the local Libyan opposition on 23 February 2011, and lost by the government of Muammar al-Gaddafi. Thousands of anti-government protesters, gathered in the Zuwarah town square on February 24th, repulsed another government militia attempt to retake the city. However, from March onwards, the city was under the control of Loyalist forces. Amidst the August rebel coastal offensive, rebels claimed to have taken Zuwarah on 18 August, but this could not be independently confirmed.

See also

• List of cities in Libya
• Zuara Berber

Notes

1. ^ Mitchell (2007: 29, 195).
2. ^ "Voyage du Scheikh Et-Tidjani dans la régence de Tunis pendant les années 706, 707 et 708 de l'hégire (1306-1309)", transl. by M. A. Rousseau, Journal Asiatique 1853, p. 121.
3. ^ "Live Blog - Libya Feb 24". Al Jazeera English. http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/02/23/live-blog-libya-feb-24. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
4. ^ NPR; "Militias In Libya Attack Protesters"; February 24, 2011; Accessed 2001-02-24.
5. ^ "Rebels claim control of Libya’s last functioning oil refinery". The Washington Post. 18 August 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/explosions-shake-libyan-capital-as-rebels-advance-in-the-western-mountains-around-tripoli/2011/08/18/gIQAUtxHNJ_story.html. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 

Sources

• Terence Frederick Mitchell, Ferhat. An Everyday Story of Berber Folk in and around Zuara (Libya), Köln, Köppe, 2007 - ISBN 978-3-89645-396-9

Coordinates: 32°56′N 12°05′E / 32.933°N 12.083°E / 32.933; 12.083