Law No. 21 of 1991 on Mobilization

This law regulates general and partial mobilization in Libya and outlines the related procedures. The law addresses:

• General mobilization: Defined as the mobilization of all human, material, and moral resources of Libya, properly preparing the country from a state of peace to a state of war (Article 1).
• Partial mobilization: Defined as the preparation of all or some units of the Armed People, or some human or material resources to address a specific situation, conduct tactical exercises and strategic maneuvers, or execute revolutionary transformation programs (ibid).

According to the law, the People’s Congresses declare the states of mobilization in situations where an external danger exists (such as tension in international relations, the risk or outbreak of war) or where an internal danger persists (including a threat to the authority of the people, natural disasters, epidemics or other threats to the lives, security, or safety of the population (Article 3).

The effects of the general mobilization include the mobilization of all human and material resources to support the war effort. According to Article 1, the definition of ‘human resources’ is: “Male and female citizens who have attained the age of seventeen, so long as they are physically capable to fight, work and produce.”