Saif al-Islam Gaddafi died under strange circumstances last Tuesday, and preliminary investigations indicate that he might have been the target of a planned attack
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Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and one of the most controversial figures on the country's political scene after the regime's fall in 2011, died on Tuesday at the age of 53 in the city of Zintan, in western Libya, according to his lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, and his adviser Abdullah Osman. The circumstances of his death have not yet been clarified and the Libyan authorities have not issued an official confirmation.
According to information released by local media and the Libya News Agency, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was killed in his residence by an armed group made up of four unidentified individuals.
The same sources indicated that the security cameras at the site were reportedly disabled before the attack, which suggests a planned operation. The Libyan Attorney General's Office announced the opening of an investigation to determine those responsible and the motives for the killing.
De acuerdo a su abogado, Gaddafi fue asesinado en su residencia por grupos armados
The head of Gaddafi's political team confirmed his death on Tuesday night, while his lawyer stated that it was a "four-man commando" that carried out the attack.
However, contradictory versions have emerged regarding the exact location of the events. In statements to a Libyan television channel, one of his sisters claimed that Saif al-Islam died near the border with Algeria, which adds uncertainty to the events.
Meanwhile, the 444th Combat Brigade "categorically" denied any involvement in the incident, in a context marked by the presence of numerous armed militias that control different areas of the country.
Libya has remained fragmented since the overthrow and death of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, divided between rival governments in the east and the west, supported by different armed actors and foreign powers.
Tras la muerte de Muammar Gaddafi, Libia ha enfrentado una crisis política y social sin precedentes
Who Saif Gaddafi was
Born in 1972, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was for years considered his father's political heir and one of the most influential figures in the regime. Although he never held an official position, he played a central role in Libyan politics, especially from the year 2000 onward, when he led the country's rapprochement with the West.
He took part in key negotiations that led to the abandonment of Libya's nuclear program and the lifting of international sanctions, which earned him a reformist image among some international sectors.
After the regime's fall, he was accused of having played a prominent role in the violent repression of the 2011 anti-government protests. He was captured by a militia in Zintan and remained in detention for almost six years. The International Criminal Court requested his extradition to try him for crimes against humanity, but Libya never handed him over.
El hijo de Gaddafi fue una figura clave para el abandono del programa nuclear de Libia
In 2015, a Tripoli court, under the control of the government backed by the United Nations, sentenced him to death in absentia for his role in the repression. Two years later, he was released by a militia in the east of the country under an amnesty law, which revived his political profile. In 2021, he announced his intention to run as a presidential candidate, although the elections were postponed indefinitely.
The death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi comes in a context of persistent political and security instability in Libya, and could have repercussions for the fragile balance between rival factions.
The authorities continue to investigate the case while the country remains in anticipation of greater clarity regarding one of the most significant episodes in post-Gaddafi Libya.
En 2015, Gaddafi fue condenado a muerte por una corte respaldada por las Naciones Unidas
