Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Reported Killed in Libya
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Reported Killed in Libya
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
Son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam has been reportedly killed on February 3, 2026, at his home in Zintan.
Reports indicate that four unidentified gunmen disabled security cameras before opening fire on him and fleeing the scene.
His political advisor and cousin confirmed the death, though some initial reports suggested he might have survived. The Libyan Attorney General has launched an investigation into the assassination, but the identities and motives of the attackers remain unknown.
A family statement attributed to his cousin noted, “Saif al-Islam has fallen as a martyr in the same track as his father, grandfather, and brothers.” This references the violent deaths of several family members during the 2011 uprising.
Once seen as a reformer, Saif al-Islam later became a polarizing figure who vowed to crush the 2011 revolution. After years in captivity and a death sentence in absentia, he was released in 2017 and remained a significant, albeit controversial, political force.
Despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court, he sought to return to power by registering for Libya’s postponed presidential elections. His presence continued to influence the complex power struggle between the country’s rival eastern and western administrations.
The assassination in Zintan adds to Libya’s ongoing instability and fragmentation. By removing a major link to the former regime, his death potentially reshapes the political landscape as the nation continues its difficult search for unity.
