Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman
الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير عُمان
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| Founded | 1974 |
| Dissolved | 1992 |
| Preceded by | Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf |
| Succeeded by | People's Democratic Front of Oman |
| Ideology | Arab nationalism Marxism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| International affiliation | Arab Nationalist Movement |
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The Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO) was a group in Oman that wanted big changes. Its name in Arabic is Arabic: الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير عُمان, romanized: al-Jabha aš-Šaʿbiyya li-Taḥrīr ʿUmān. This group had strong ideas about how society should be run, based on Marxism, and also believed in Arab nationalism, which is about Arab countries working together.
The PFLO fought against the Sultan (the ruler) of Oman. This fight was part of something called the Dhofar Rebellion. The PFLO was involved in this rebellion from when it started in 1974 until the fighting stopped in 1976.
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What Was the PFLO?
The PFLO was a group that wanted to change the government in Oman, even using force if needed. They believed in ideas like Marxism, which focuses on equality and how society's wealth should be shared. They also supported Arab nationalism, which is the idea that Arab people should be united.
How the PFLO Started
The PFLO grew out of an older group called the Dhofar Liberation Front (DLF). This group was formed in 1962 in Dhofar, which is a southern part of Oman. The DLF started fighting in June 1965.
In September 1968, the DLF changed its name to the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG). Many members of this group followed Marxism-Leninism, which is a type of Marxism. They were also inspired by what was happening in nearby South Yemen, where big changes were taking place.
Another group, the National Democratic Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (NDFLOAG), was formed in northern Oman in June 1970. This group joined with the PFLOAG in December 1971. The new, combined group kept the name Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG). By 1973, there were reports that the PFLOAG had secret groups working within the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The group finally became known as the PFLO in 1974. This happened when another group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Bahrain (PFLB), was created as a separate organization. The PFLO continued to have some secret activities after this. The youth part of the PFLO was called the Oman Youth Organization, and they published a newspaper called Uman al-Thawrah.
The Dhofar Rebellion
When the PFLOAG was formed, it became involved in the ongoing Dhofar rebellion. This was a fight against the ruler, Sultan Sa'id. In 1970, the group had a split. Some members decided to accept an offer of amnesty (forgiveness) from the new Sultan, Sultan Qaboos.
Sultan Qaboos was able to bring peace to most of Dhofar. He received a lot of military and financial help from Western countries. By 1976, the rebellion had ended.
What Happened to the PFLO After 1976?
Even after the rebellion ended, the PFLO continued to exist. In 1992, the party changed its name again. It became the People's Democratic Front of Oman (PDFO). This new group works peacefully for democracy, which means a government where people have a say. In 1992, Abdul Aziz al-Qadi was the secretary general of this group.
