Gaddafi’s Son Killed: Dismay As Saif Al-Islam Assassinated in Libya, Photo Trends
- Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was assassinated in Libya by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at his Zintan residence
- A controversial figure once seen as reformist, his killing has ignited global attention and dismay
- Saif al-Islam's turbulent history includes an ICC warrant and a death sentence that was eventually waived
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering world news and global affairs.
Zintan, Libya - Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most famous and influential son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed in the North African country.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Saif al-Islam's lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, and his political adviser, Abdullah Abdurrahim Othman, confirmed the 53-year-old’s death in separate posts on Facebook on Tuesday, February 3.
Source: Twitter
Saif al-Islam reportedly shot dead in Libya
The slain political figure’s lawyer told AFP that a 'four-man masked commando' unit carried out the assassination at his home in Zintan.
However, it remains unclear who is behind the attack.
Othman, who represented Gaddafi in the United Nations-brokered political dialogue, which aimed to resolve Libya’s long-running conflict, told Al-Ahrar TV that he was in shock at Seif al-Islam's assassination.
The attackers were said to have disabled surveillance cameras before carrying out the dastardly attack.
Othman disclosed:
"Four armed men stormed the residence of Seif al-Islam Kadhafi after disabling surveillance cameras, then executed him."
Hamid Kadhafi, Gaddafi Jr's cousin, told Al-Ahrar TV the assassinated politician had 'fallen as a martyr'.
The alleged X photo of the slain politician is circulating on social media after the attack.
Who is Saif al-Islam Gaddafi?
Seif al-Islam, 53, had been seen as his father's successor, and in 2021, he announced that he would run for president, but those elections were indefinitely postponed.
While he held no official position in the North African country under his father's rule, he had been described as Libya's de facto prime minister, cultivating an image of moderation and reform before the 2011 Arab Spring revolt.
But that reputation soon collapsed when he promised 'rivers of blood' amid the uprisings.
He was arrested in November 2011 in southern Libya under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In 2015, he was sentenced to death following a swift trial but was later granted amnesty.
Source: Twitter
Born in June 1972 in Tripoli, Seif al-Islam was the second-born son of the long-time dictator.
He studied for a PhD at the London School of Economics (LSE) and was seen as the reformist face of the Gaddafi regime.
After earning his certification from LSE in 2008, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi emerged as a prominent, 'pro-Western' figure for his father’s regime, leading diplomatic initiatives.
He also oversaw the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, an NGO focused on humanitarian aid and relief efforts.
Saif Al-Islam called himself 'a reformer', and campaigned for a Libyan constitution and respect for human rights.
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Libya deports 80 Nigerian migrants
Legit.ng earlier reported that Libya had deported 80 Nigerian migrants being held in various detention centres across the country as part of ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration and decongest holding facilities.
It was stated that the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), in collaboration with the Nigerian Consulate in Tripoli, had coordinated the repatriation exercise through Mitiga International Airport.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
