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Gaddafi’s Son Saif al-Islam Reportedly Killed in Libya After 2022 Presidential Bid

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4 months ago Scott

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has reportedly been killed in what is believed to be an assassination attempt in Libya on Tuesday, January 14.

Details surrounding his death remain unclear, with conflicting accounts emerging from different sources. His lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, claimed that four unidentified gunmen attacked Saif al-Islam at his residence in Zintan.

However, his sister offered a different version of events, stating that he died near Libya’s border with Algeria, according to reports by the BBC.

Following the incident, Libya’s security authorities launched investigations to establish the exact circumstances of his death and identify those responsible.

Political Influence and Past Controversies

Over the past decade, Saif al-Islam had remained a significant political figure in Libya, despite not holding any official government position. His influence grew amid the country’s prolonged political instability after the 2011 uprising that ended his father’s rule.

In 2011, he was captured and detained in Zintan for six years by rival groups after attempting to flee the country during the revolution. The International Criminal Court (ICC) sought to prosecute him for crimes against humanity, accusing him of involvement in the violent suppression of protests.

In 2015, a court in Tripoli sentenced him to death for war crimes, following approval from the ICC. After his release in 2017, he largely disappeared from public life, reportedly staying in Zintan to avoid potential assassination attempts.

Presidential Ambitions

In 2022, Saif al-Islam announced his intention to run for Libya’s presidency, a decision that sparked mixed reactions across the country. However, he was disqualified from the race due to his previous convictions. Attempts to challenge the ruling in court were blocked by rival political factions.

During Muammar Gaddafi’s rule, Saif al-Islam played an important role in diplomatic negotiations and reforms, including efforts that led to Libya abandoning its nuclear weapons programme.

Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya for nearly 42 years, from 1969 until his overthrow and death in 2011. Despite his political prominence, Saif al-Islam had repeatedly stated that he did not intend to inherit power, once remarking that leadership was “not a farm to be passed down.”