Almost Seven years after Libyans toppled their 40-year ruler Muammar Gaddafi from power in a U.S. backed revolution, the former leader’s son and heir apparent to his father’s regime, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has announced his return to frontline politics.
And he appeared poised to succeed his father as leader of the North African country. Here are the key points you need to know about him.
Is Saif al-Islam Gaddafi really free? According to the militia brigade that captured and has detained him since 2011, as well as to one of his lawyers, he is indeed free. However, both parties made a similar claim in July last year. In the end, that appeared not to be true – at least not in the commonly understood sense of being free. He may have been treated as a “free man”, in theory, over the past year by the brigade holding him. But there was no evidence then, nor any today, that he has ever left the outskirts of Zintan, where he has been held.
Who might be expected to support or oppose him inside Libya? There is a long list of militias, politicians, influential businessmen and ordinary Libyans who will always oppose him. But some Libyans who have suffered since his father was ousted in 2011 may support him. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi would also be supported by armed blocs who believe they could be stronger against their rivals with him by their side. At present, it is believed this could include some political and military forces in the east of the country, led by the controversial military strongman, Khalifa Hefter.
Facts About Saif al-Islam Gaddafi
- June 1972:Â Born in Tripoli, Libya, second son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi
- February 2011:Â Uprising against Gaddafi government begins
- June 2011:Â International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for him for crimes against humanity
- August 2011:Â Leaves the capital after Tripoli falls to anti-government forces; flees to Bani Walid
- October 2011:Â Father and a younger brother killed
- 19 November 2011:Â Captured by militia as he tries to flee south to Niger. Imprisoned in Zintan
- July 2015:Â Sentenced to death by a Tripoli court in his absence
- June 2017:Â Released under amnesty law issued by one of Libya’s two competing governments.
Photo Credit: Getty
