Ahmed Oun


Ahmed Oun was a Major General in the Libyan Armed Forces. He was the head of Technical Affairs and Heavy weapons in the Ministry of Defense. In the late 2008 he was appointed as the Executive Secretary of the North African Regional Capabilities NARC by the North African Joint Chiefs, which is a part of the African Standby Force.

Early life and education

Ahmed Oun was born in 1946 in Tripoli, Bab al-Azizia. He was raised in the area between the British military camps and the remnants of Italian occupation in Al-Sreem Street. During that time, he and many Libyans of his generation were suffering from cruel life and disturbed economic conditions that the world experienced after the end of World War II. He was raised as an orphan as his father died while his mother was pregnant with him. He completed his education in Tripoli schools where he participated in student uprisings and demonstrations demanding the withdrawal of British and American troops from Libya.

Career

In 1966, after earning a high school diploma and because of his early sense of patriotism, he left his family to join the Royal Military Academy in Benghazi. He graduated in 1968 then he was directed to the Signal Corp as an Army Signal officer. Shortly after, he joined the Movement of the Free Officers Unionists, which was a secret movement at that time, to be the youngest officer to join the movement. Then he left for a Military Signal course in the U.S.A. He then returned to participate in the revolution that was done by the Libyan Army, which ended the era of the royal power.
At the end of 1969, he participated in the delegation that was in charge of negotiating the evacuation of British and US troops and bases from Libya, which successfully led to the evacuation. Later he volunteered with a group of Libyans to join The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, at its headquarters in Gota in DamascusSyria, to help them in Liberation of their country.
At the end of 1969, he participated in the delegation that was in charge of negotiating the evacuation of British and US troops and bases from Libya. Later he volunteered with a group of Libyans to join Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, at his headquarters in Ghouta in Damascus – Syria.
During his time with the Libyan Army, he held various commands and worked his way through that ranks till becoming a Major General in 2004 as the head of Technical Affairs and Heavy Weapons in the Libyan army.

Battles

Ahmed Oun commanded a front in the military operation against Chadian troops in 1986. He was in charge of Libyan troops that were defending the Doom Valley front in the border region between the two countries.
General Ahmed Oun stood with the 2011 uprising to reduce civilian casualties and save the lives of Libyans. Not his beliefs nor his principles allow him to participate of the killing of Libyan civilians. Actually, his duties as the Executive Secretary of NARC was a peacekeeping force in nature, as he argued in many conferences about peace and the protection of civilians, not killing them.

Positions