Updated: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of ex-Libyan leader, assasinated
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Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of Libya’s former ruler Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed at the age of 53 in an attack at his residence in Zintan, western Libya. The assassination, confirmed by his lawyer and political team, was reportedly carried out by a four-man commando unit. While some family members claim he died near the Algerian border, most sources agree the fatal incident occurred in Zintan. The exact motives and perpetrators remain unclear, with Libyan authorities yet to comment publicly.
Al Jazeera quotes Libyan news outlet Fawasel Media cited Othman as saying that armed men killed Gaddafi in his home in the town of Zintan, some 136km (85 miles) southwest of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
Gaddafi’s political team later released a statement, saying that “four masked men” stormed his house and killed him in a “cowardly and treacherous assassination”.
The statement mentioned that he clashed with the assailants. They closed the security cameras at the house. This was done “in a desperate attempt to conceal traces of their heinous crimes”.
Khaled al-Mishri is the former head of the Tripoli-based High State Council. This is an internationally recognised government body. He called for an “urgent and transparent investigation” into the killing in a social media post.
Saif al-Islam was long considered his father’s heir apparent. He was the most influential figure in Libya after Muammar Gaddafi. Gaddafi ruled the country for over four decades until his overthrow and death in 2011. Educated at the London School of Economics, Saif al-Islam played a pivotal role in Libya’s rapprochement with the West. He led negotiations that resulted in the abandonment of the country’s nuclear weapons programme. This also led to the lifting of international sanctions. He cultivated an image as a reformer. However, this reputation collapsed during the 2011 uprising. He supported the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
Following the fall of Tripoli, Saif al-Islam was captured while attempting to flee. He spent nearly six years imprisoned by a militia in Zintan. The International Criminal Court wanted him for alleged crimes against humanity. A Tripoli court sentenced him to death in absentia in 2015. However, he was released under an amnesty law in 2017. He later re-emerged in Libyan politics. He announced his candidacy for the presidency in 2021. Elections were postponed indefinitely. Libya remains divided between rival governments and militias, with Saif al-Islam’s death likely to impact the country’s fragile political landscape.
During his father’s rule, Saif al-Islam shaped policy. He led high-profile diplomatic missions. These included negotiations for Libya’s disarmament and compensation for victims of the Lockerbie bombing. Despite never holding an official government post, he was often described as Libya’s de facto prime minister. His legacy includes reformist ambitions. It also includes his controversial role in suppressing dissent. This leaves a complex imprint on Libya’s history.
