Onder de monarchie (voor Kadhafi) was Libië was een van de armste landen ter wereld. Die monarchie, dat was Koning Idris I, geïnstalleerd in 1951 toen de Britten weggingen. Deze monarchie was verbonden aan de Senussi orde, een anti-westerse moslim sekte gesticht in Mekka in 1837.
Senussi was concerned with both the decline of Islamic thought and spirituality and the weakening of Muslim political integrity. He was influenced by the Salafi movement, to which he added teachings from various Sufi orders. From 1902 to 1913 the Senussi fought French expansion in the Sahara, and the Italian colonisation of Libya beginning in 1911. The Grand Senussi's grandson became King Idris I of Libya in 1951. In 1969, King Idris I was overthrown by a military coup led by Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi. A third of the population in Libya continue to be affiliated with the Senussi movement.
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(fig.: vlag van Libië in 1951, vlag van Cyrenaica, Cyrenaica)