On September 1, 1969, Muammar Gaddafi ended the rule of the Western-backed Senussi monarchy of Idris in a 1969 coup. Having taken power, Gaddafi converted Libya into a republic ruled by his Revolutionary Command Council and ended the monarchical government. At the time, Elmahdi bin Abdullah al-Senussi was attending school in England together with his brother. He was informed of the events that took place in his homeland, including the end to the monarchy, in a phone call. Al-Senussi later went on to study at the Brummana High School in Lebanon.