Since the fall of Moammar Gaddafi, Libyans have yearned for national reconciliation. But until the central government grows strong enough to reign in violent militias, many Libyans maintain their own arsenals. We have an update on life in Libya one year after NATO forces pulled out.

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Libya: One year after NATO forces pulled out - Libyan moved back to Libya

Libyans believed they were celebrating a new beginning just year ago. The NATO mission headed by Canadian Lt. Gen Charles Bouchard was declared a success and the end of 42 years of oppressive rule by Mouammar Gadhafi seemed to herald a better future. We wanted to know if Libyans still feel that way, and if their lives are better, a year after NATO ceased operations.

Donya Abdulhadi is a Libyan who was born in Italy, and spent most of her life outside Libya - attending university at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, working in Toronto, living in Italy. But she's moved back to Libya and now works in the capital city of Tripoli. We reached her this morning on vacation in Rome.

Music Bridge

Libyana - Hamid El Shari

Libya: One year after NATO forces pulled out - Tripoli Resident

Our next guest also lives in Libya's capital. We'd been in touch with him during the uprising, but he never spoke on the air because he feared for his safety. Today though, Hussam Arnaout joined us from Tripoli.

Libya: One year after NATO forces pulled out - Human Rights Watch

Both Hussam Arnaout and Donya Abdulhadi are proud of Libya and optimistic about its future. But events in a town about 100 km south of Tripoli expose another view of Libya.

Bani Walid was a stronghold of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and still home to many Gadhafi loyalists. It's been under siege for weeks by government-aligned militias who entered the town to allegedly arrest fugitive criminals. But the operation expanded and civilians have been killed. Bani Walid residents call it an unjustified government force against their town.

According to reports, at least 22 people have been killed in Bani Walid - and thousands of others have been injured or displaced. What's happening there represents a microcosm of the challenges Libya faces one year after NATO forces pulled out.

Hanan Salah is the Libya researcher for Human Rights Watch in New York City.

This segment was produced by The Current's Pacinthe Mattar.

Other segments from today's show:

Tracking Hurricane Sandy

Honouring Mama Hawa