Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was shot dead early Tuesday afternoon at his home in Zintan, western Libya.
The attack was carried out by a four-man commando who, after seriously wounding him in the residence's garden, quickly fled. The news, initially reported by the satellite channel Al Arabiya citing a source close to the family, was confirmed to AFP by his French lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi.
The divisive face of post-2011 Libya
A graduate of the London School of Economics and once considered a potential reformist successor to his father, Saif al-Islam (48) has played a central and controversial role in Libya's recent history. After the fall of the regime in 2011, he remained extremely influential and divisive.
Wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity for the repression of the protests, he reemerged on the political scene by announcing his candidacy for the 2021 presidential elections, which were later postponed.
Armed clashes and power struggles
The murder is not an isolated incident, but appears to be linked to a new surge in tension in the area. According to sources, the ambush was followed by several hours of fierce fighting between local militias and groups loyal to the former regime, which erupted in the desert area of al-Hamada and near Zintan.
Lawyer Ceccaldi reported that he had learned, about ten days ago, from an associate of Saif al-Islam, that there were problems regarding his safety.
Reactions: From mourning to the shadows of the past
The reaction of those who supported him to the end was immediate. Mohammed Abdulmuttalib al-Huni, his former advisor, wrote on Facebook: "The hand of treason has struck and murdered a man who loved Libya and dreamed of its prosperity and rebirth." His death, however, also closes an unresolved international judicial chapter, leaving Libya in an increasingly dangerous power vacuum, where the weapons of militias continue to rule the roost.
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Comments (1)
It's sad that such an important figure as Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was killed, but he was also somewhat controversial. Libya needs stability, but violence never leads to anything good in my opinion.