"hated by other Arab leaders".    Wrong.   By some. Not by others. Particularly not the ones who benefited from his oil money largess.

More to the point is the old question:   why have half his people (or more) turned their backs on this beloved leader--and many are willing to die to oppose him?"

Time at long last for you to take off your blinders, Ake.

Your excuses for deserting the rebels now are worse than threadbare.