Conflicting Reports Emerge Over Alleged Killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Son of Former Libyan Leader

Tripoli. Claims have surfaced regarding the fatal shooting of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan ruler Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. This information was provided by the Libyan news agency, citing his team chief.

His lawyer told AFP that an armed group of four people attacked and killed him at his home in the city of Zintan. However, it remains unclear who the attackers were. Nevertheless, Saif's sister has made a different claim. She stated on Libyan television that Saif's death occurred near the Libya-Algeria border area.

Saif al-Islam was long considered the most influential leader after his father in Libya and a potential successor. His father, Muammar Gaddafi, ruled from 1969 until 2011, when he was killed during the uprising. Born in 1972, Saif played a significant role in improving relations with Western countries from 2000 until the fall of the Gaddafi regime. However, he was accused of playing a role in suppressing the 2011 popular movement.

Following Gaddafi's fall, Saif was held captive by a rival militia in Zintan for nearly six years. The International Criminal Court (ICC) sought to prosecute him for crimes against humanity, and in 2015, a Libyan court sentenced him to death in absentia. Although he held no formal position, he was influential in government policy-making and international negotiations, including the agreement to halt Libya's nuclear program.