Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Muammar Gaddafi's son who attempted to return to Libyan politics after years in captivity, dies
- Murder of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Zintan
- Zintan, the site of the attack and years of captivity
- Profile, education and role in the international opening of the regime
- From acceptable figure to face of repression in 2011
- Capture, detention and legal proceedings
Murder of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Zintan
The death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi at the hands of armed men at his home in Zintan brings to an end one of the most uncertain and controversial periods in Libya's recent history, following 2011.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi died on 3 February 2026 at his home in Zintan. Four unidentified armed men entered his home, as confirmed by his close circle and his solicitor. The Libyan authorities have launched an official investigation into the murder, but there is still no clear information about who was responsible or the exact motive for the attack.
Confirmed details and status of the investigation
The only details known from the Libyan prosecutor's office confirm that the cause of Saif's death was a gunshot wound. An investigation has been launched to identify those responsible. Reports have been made about the death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, although the information is contradictory. So far, the exact circumstances surrounding his death have not been confirmed.
Available reports indicate that the perpetrators fled and no one has claimed responsibility. Some militias and armed groups in Libya have stated that they had nothing to do with it, such as the 444 Combat Brigade.
Hypotheses and context of tensions in Libya
As for the possible perpetrators, the situation is complex. Different groups and factions have been active in the region, and determining who exactly is responsible could be difficult. It is important to wait for clear and verifiable information to emerge in order to understand precisely what happened.
Although the reason for the attack has not been confirmed, some analysts and observers here in the area link it to the ongoing political and armed tensions in Libya. In particular, opposition to Saif al-Islam by rebel groups and those who considered him an impediment to the elections.
Zintan, the site of the attack and years of captivity
The attack took place in Zintan, the same city where he was detained for almost six years and where he remained after his release in 2017. He was protected, but also controlled, by armed groups in the area.
The son of Muammar Gaddafi, who was overthrown and killed, was truly the face of the regime to the world for quite some time. Later, he was seen as responsible for its repression, and then as an ethereal figure whose return prevented the main idea of holding presidential elections in the country. He was 53 years old.
Profile, education and role in the international opening of the regime
Saif al-Islam, son of Muammar and Safiya, was born in Tripoli in 1972. He was always very involved in politics.
With a PhD in Philosophy from the London School of Economics, being an English speaker and experienced in Western political and academic circles, he was the regime's choice for its strategy to end international isolation in the 2000s. He participated in the compensation agreements for the Lockerbie attack in 1998 and intervened to free the Bulgarian nurses in 2007. The Gaddafi Development Foundation shared some important ideas. These invited reflection on the need for a constitution and also analysed the human rights situation.
Academic training and international profile
In many Western governments, he was considered the “acceptable Gaddafi”. In Libya, although he did not hold an official position, many saw him as the second most powerful man in the country after his father. That idea disappeared in 2011.
When the people rose up against the regime, Saif al-Islam decided to support his family and his tribe. He became an influential voice in the repression, threatening ‘rivers of blood’ and referring to the insurgents as ‘rats’. He warned that Libya would be destroyed if the government fell.
From acceptable figure to face of repression in 2011
After the fall of Tripoli, he tried to escape to Niger. He disguised himself as a Bedouin, but a Zintan militia found him in the desert and captured him. While his father was being lynched and executed in Sirte, Saif al-Islam remained in prison. He was detained until 2017. Human Rights Watch confirmed that he did not report torture, but did report prolonged isolation.
In 2015, a court in Tripoli handed down a death sentence in absentia for war crimes linked to the 2011 crackdown. At the same time, the International Criminal Court had an arrest warrant in force for crimes against humanity. His release under the Amnesty Law did not end those trials or eliminate the dangers. He remained in hiding for several years.
Capture, detention and legal proceedings
In 2021, he reappeared publicly in Sabha and announced his desire to run for president, relying on the nostalgia of a segment of the population that viewed the pre-2011 era as a time of stability. He was rejected by those who suffered under his father's previous regime and by armed groups that emerged from the revolution. Despite his disqualification due to his 2015 conviction, disputes over his candidacy contributed to the deadlock in the electoral process. Libya returned to political stagnation.
In an interview with The New York Times Magazine, Saif al-Islam explained his strategy: to return ‘little by little, like a striptease’. Analysts have pointed out that, despite his limited public presence, his surname continued to carry considerable symbolic weight.
That symbolic weight was enough to derail an already fragile election. His death removes the most visible figure from the pro-Gaddafi camp, although it does not guarantee an end to the crisis. The end of Saif al-Islam also means the end of any immediate political comeback for the Gaddafi clan.