From 1943 to 1951, Libya is under Allied occupation.

The British military administers the two former Italian Libyan provinces of Tripolitana and Cyrenaïca, while the French administers the province of Fezzan.

In 1944, Idris returns from exile in Cairo but declines to resume permanent residence in Cyrenaica until the removal of some aspects of foreign control in 1947.

Under the terms of the 1947 peace treaty with the Allies, Italy relinquish all claims to Libya.