His death reignites uncertainty around Libya’s presidential election

Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was assassinated on Monday, February 3, 2026, at his residence in Zintan, according to his advisor Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, speaking to Libya Al-Ahrar TV. Aged 53, he was killed by a commando of four armed men who disabled the security cameras before executing him. The information was also confirmed by his French lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi, to AFP.

Once seen as a reformist voice within his father's regime, Seif al-Islam’s image was shattered during the 2011 uprising when he threatened protesters with a bloodbath. Wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, he was captured and held in Zintan, sentenced to death in 2015 after a swift trial, then later granted amnesty.

His death comes amid Libya’s ongoing political instability and repeated delays in holding presidential elections. Seif al-Islam had declared his candidacy in 2021, banking on support from loyalists of the former regime. According to political analyst Emadeddin Badi, his assassination could elevate his status among his supporters and shift the political balance by removing a major and polarizing figure from the electoral landscape.

The identity and motives of the attackers remain unknown, further deepening the divisions between rival factions in a country still torn by militia influence and competing political ambitions.

Sources:

• Libya Al-Ahrar (via X)

• AFP