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Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Reported Killed in Zintan as Aides Confirm Death

The ICC-wanted ex-presidential contender’s death spotlights Libya’s militia-dominated security vacuum, with prosecutors reported to be probing the case.

Overview

  • His lawyer Khaled el-Zaydi and political adviser Abdullah Othman confirmed the 53-year-old’s death, while national authorities have yet to issue a unified statement.
  • Multiple reports say four gunmen entered his residence in Zintan, disabled surveillance cameras and killed him, though key details remain unverified.
  • Some accounts conflict on the location and perpetrators, including a claim from his sister that he died near the Algeria border and a militia unit’s denial of involvement after being named in reports.
  • Local outlets say prosecutors have opened an investigation into the killing, reflecting the challenges of fact-finding in an area controlled by rival armed groups.
  • Saif al-Islam was sentenced to death in absentia by a Tripoli court in 2015, remained wanted by the International Criminal Court, was released under a 2017 amnesty, and his 2021 presidential bid became a flashpoint in Libya’s stalled elections.