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===Libyan Civil War 2011===
This distinct culture, suppressed and oppressed by the Libyan regime, has risen to new prominence in the course of the [[Libyan Civil War (2011)]], when their initiatives led to the Nafusa Mountains becoming a major front in that war.<ref name=laub/><ref name=map28june>[http://archive.libyafeb17.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/nafusa-map-june-28.png Map of situation on 28 June 2011 at]</ref> The terrain and topography of the region are critical strategic factors, constraining mechanised advances from the flat plain and plateau, and favouring guerrilla tactics based on close local knowledge and the advantage of high ground. By the end of June 2011 the Nafusi people had almost succeeded in liberating themselves completely from the control of the regime, and this progress seems likely to continue.<ref name=laub>{{cite news|last=Laub|first=Karin|title=Libya's western mountain rebels taste success|url=http://cnsnews.com/news/article/libyas-western-mountain-rebels-taste-suc|accessdate=18 August 2011|newspaper=CNS News|date=15 August 2011|agency=Associated Press|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831231002/http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/libyas-western-mountain-rebels-taste-suc|archivedate=31 August 2011|df=}}</ref>
== Geography ==
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== Economy ==
The mountain villages raise primarily goats, olives and grain, but also have fig and apricot orchards.<ref>{{cite news|last=Faul|first=Michelle|title=High-level US diplomat meets Libyan rebel leaders|url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/high-level-us-diplomat-meets-libyan-rebe|accessdate=18 August 2011|newspaper=CNS News|date=23 May 2011|agency=Associated Press|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://archive.is/20120724111021/http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/high-level-us-diplomat-meets-libyan-rebe|archivedate=24 July 2012|df=}}</ref>
[[File:Libya ethnic.svg|thumb | right | 300px| Ethic composition of the Libyan population in 1974. The orange arc in the Northwest shows the Berber population in the Nafusa Mountains.]]
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The Nafusa Mountains became first a hotbed for anti-Gaddafi protests (with protests breaking out relatively early in Nalut and Zintan) and then a rebel stronghold, an island of rebel control in the mainly Gaddafi-controlled western part of the country. During the early stages, forces allied to the national transitional government succeeded in evacuating most non-combatants into Tunisia; the [[Wazzin]] border crossing was captured and held to ensure supply lines from Tunisia; all the mountain towns were retaken; and the front extended to the plains, cutting regime communications lines and allowing electricity to be restored. They were the first rebel combatants to be supplied with arms by air-drop.<ref>{{cite news|last=Spencer|first=Richard|title=France supplying weapons to Libyan rebels|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8606541/France-supplying-weapons-to-Libyan-rebels.html|accessdate=18 August 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=29 June 2011}}</ref>
In the course of the civil war, many towns in the area were subjected to shelling by artillery and rockets from both sides, with much damage to infrastructure. Regime forces cut off electricity and water supplies. [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] sent a team in [[Zintan]] to help the large number of wounded.<ref>{{cite web|title=MSF expands operations in response to growing needs in Libya|url=http://www.msf.org/msf/articles/2011/05/msf-expands-operations-in-response-to-growing-needs-in-libya.cfm|publisher=Médecins Sans Frontières|accessdate=18 August 2011|date=18 May 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323005325/http://www.msf.org/msf/articles/2011/05/msf-expands-operations-in-response-to-growing-needs-in-libya.cfm|archivedate=23 March 2012|df=}}</ref> [[Al Galaa]] was without electricity and water for seven weeks, and more than 45,000 refugees fled for safety to the adjoining [[Tunisia]]n region of [[Tatouine]], where many had relatives.<ref>{{cite web|last=Robertson|first=Nic|title=Libyan begs NATO to save his small town|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/21/libya.small.towns/|work=CNN International Edition|publisher=Cable News Network|accessdate=18 August 2011|date=22 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=More than 45,000 Libyan refugees in Tataouine|url=http://www.tap.info.tn/en/en/regions/2575-more-than-45000-libyan-refugees-in-tataouine.html|work=|publisher=Tunisian News Agency|accessdate=18 August 2011|date=21 May 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525014523/http://www.tap.info.tn/en/en/regions/2575-more-than-45000-libyan-refugees-in-tataouine.html|archivedate=25 May 2011|df=}}</ref>
===Cultural renaissance===
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