Libyan civil war (2011)
| Idris al-Senussi | |
|---|---|
| Pretender | |
| Born | 18 January 1957 Benghazi |
| Title(s) | Prince |
| Throne(s) claimed | Libya |
| Monarchy abolished | 1 September 1969 |
| Last monarch | Idris |
| Connection with | cousin twice removed and also step-great nephew |
| Royal House | Senussi |
| Father | Sayyid Abdalla Abed Al Senussi |
| Mother | Ghalia bint Nur Saleh |
| Spouse | Anna Maria Quinones de Leon |
| Children | Alia al-Senussi Khaled al-Senussi |
Sayyid Idris bin Abdullah al-Senussi (born 18 January 1957) is an exiled Libyan opposition figure and a claimant to the headship of the Sanussiyyah movement.[1] He started claiming to be heir to the Libyan throne in 1989, though recently stated that if the old Libyan Constitution is restored post-Gaddafi, there will be free elections and the people will be united under the constitution with "some modifications where the part of the monarch will be taken out" and the people "will elect a head of state, who can be president or whatever they want to call him".[2] The position of heir to the throne is also claimed by Mohammed El Senussi, the son and designated heir of the last Libyan Crown Prince. He returned to Libya on December 23 and stated he will not be active in politics or campaigning for the monarchy.[3]
Al-Senussi was born in Benghazi, the third son of the "Black Prince" Sayyid Abdalla Abed Al Senussi (1919–88) and his second wife Ghalia bint Nur Saleh. His father's third wife was a daughter of Crown Prince Muhammad al-Rida, the brother of King Idris. He was twelve years old when, on 1 September 1969, the monarchy in Libya was overthrown by Muammar Gaddafi. At the time of the coup, al-Senussi was at school in England with his brothers. They found out about the end of monarchy after a phone call from their father.[4] al-Senussi later attended the Brummana High School in Lebanon.[1]
Template:Libyan Royal Family In exile Sayyid Abdalla Abed Al Senussi, the father of Prince Idris, was an advisor to the deposed King Idris who gave Prince Idris' father the task of "restoring legitimacy" in Libya by overthrowing Gaddafi. According to the International Strategic Studies Association with the death of his father Sayyid Abdalla Abed Al Senussi in 1988, the following year various members of the Senussi royal family agreed that Idris should be named heir and continue the struggle against Gaddafi's rule.[5] al-Senussi, supported by an Advisory Council, is the head the Sanussiyyah movement which embraces the majority of Libyan tribes. The movement aims to restore a democratically-elected government in Libya with a King as a constitutional monarch. They also have links to several armed and non armed groups both inside and outside of Libya.[6]
In 1991 it was once announced that al-Senussi would take control of a 400 man strong dissident Libyan paramilitary force that had received training from American intelligence, to fight against Gaddafi.[7] What might have become of this paramilitary force is unknown.
Al-Senussi gained notoriety in the United Kingdom in 1995 after it was revealed in court that he had convinced forty-one Members of Parliament including Henry Bellingham and Jonathan Aitken in 1990 into signing an early day motion which described him as "great nephew of the late King Idris of Libya, and heir presumptive to the Libyan throne". His claims to the throne are disputed, and were apparently designed to gain political influence with Colonel Gaddafi, the ruler of his homeland.[8] His claims were dismissed by the co-editor of Debrett's Peerage who said he was "the second son of the sixth son of the second son of the younger brother of King Idris's father" and that his branch of the Senussi family tree was so weak that if you shook it al-Senussi "would fall out".[8]
Since the abolition of the Monarchy in 1969 all titles pertaining to the Royal House were abolished and are forbidden by law. At the time of the abolition al-Senussi bore no title although Idris al-Senussi uses the style 'His Royal Highness Prince Idris al-Senussi' and has styled members of his immediate family with the same rank and style.
Al-Senussi also unsuccessfully attempted to ingratiate himself with Prince Michael of Kent, Simeon II of Bulgaria and Terry Waite, among others. His attempts to gain recognition for his claims in Britain were unsuccessful after a failed attempted to sue the Private Secretary to Prince Michael of Kent, and a Public Relations specialist Anthony Bailey for "blackmail" after Bailey tried to get al-Senussi to pay for an agreed PR programme that would describe him as 'senior spokesman' and not 'crown prince'. al-Senussi's case was dismissed by court by a magistrate.[8] The ruling of the Court and public statements of Prince Michael of Kent and Crown Prince Mohammed El Senussi disassociating themselves with Idris al-Senussi were published in 1995 which were strongly critical of his motivations.[9]
Al-Senussi then left the United Kingdom but continues to assert his claims to the leadership of the Senussi movement in Italy and elsewhere.[8] Prince Mohammed El Senussi, son of the last Crown Prince and claimant to the Libyan throne, has said "I believe that it is important now, given the crisis that faces my country, that those individuals who have been mislead [sic] in the past, note the facts so that this type of confusion is not allowed to arise again".[8]
In 2003 at the time of the Iraq war al-Senussi announced that he rejected an offer made through intermediaries from Gaddafi to become Prime Minister of Libya, saying "because of what has happened in Iraq, everything is frozen now. Everything may change."[10]
During the 2011 Libyan civil war al-Senussi announced he was "ready to return to Libya".[11] On 21 February 2011 he made an appearance on Piers Morgan Tonight to discuss the uprising.[12] In March 2011 it was reported Idris had held meetings at the State Department and Congress in Washington with US government officials. It was also reported attempts at contact had been initiated by French and Saudi officials.[13] In March 2011 when asked about who is the rightful heir, himself or Mohammed El Senussi, Idris said a family council would decide who would be king, not an heir. And that his father had passed on to him the task of maintaining the legitimacy of the monarchy.[14]
It was reported in December 2011 that Idris had flown to Tripoli from Italy using a pre-1969 passport and spent his first day looking around the former Royal Palace of Tripoli which he described as "the greatest joy of my life, apart from the birth of my children".[15]
al-Senussi has served as a Director of Washington Investment Partners and China Sciences Conservational Power Ltd.[1] He has also had involvement in the oil and gas industry,[6] having in the past worked for Condotte, Ansaldo Energia, Eni and its subsidiary Snamprogetti.[4] On one business deal alone al-Senussi once earned $80m in commission.[8]
al-Senussi has been married twice. His first marriage to Cindy Heles ended in divorce in 1986 having had one daughter:
He married his current wife the Spanish aristocrat, Ana María Quiñones de León on 23 March 1987 who now uses the style Princess Ana María al-Senussi. They have one son:
