In 2011, Tamazight became an official language in Morocco, taught alongside Arabic in schools.

CNN: A rebirth of Berber culture in post-Gadhafi Libya

Buzakhar said Tamazight's "deep-rooted" history as a native language -- which significantly predated Arabic's arrival in North Africa -- meant that regarding it as anything less than an official language was illogical.

CNN: A rebirth of Berber culture in post-Gadhafi Libya

Berbers wanted Libya's new leaders to accord Tamazight a similar status to that which it held in Morocco, where it is estimated more than half of the country's 32 million people speak Berber dialects.

CNN: A rebirth of Berber culture in post-Gadhafi Libya