The son of the former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi officially filed his candidacy this Sunday, November 14, for the Libyan presidential election scheduled for December 24. This candidacy of the second son of Muammar Gaddafi is not a surprise as Saif al-Islam had already announced his intentions. The “sword of Islam”, as his first name means, is officially back on the Libyan political scene.
After the fall of his father in 2011 Saif al-Islam tries to flee the country. But he was arrested by a revolutionary brigade that held him prisoner until 2017. While protecting him, since his captors refuse to hand him over to Libyan justice, which sentenced him to death in 2015, as well as to the International Criminal Court, which wants to try him for “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity.” A conviction and an arrest warrant that apparently did not prevent the Libyan High Electoral Commission from validating his candidacy.
Released in 2017, Saif al-Islam was discreet since. To better prepare his return. With the support of Russia, to which he is reputedly close, and to the great displeasure of Marshal Haftar, whose network of alliances he risks cracking.
Son of former Libyan leader Gaddafi to run for president
