FLASH
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His sister told Libyan television that he had died near the country's border with Algeria...
The son of former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has been killed in circumstances that are still unclear. The death of the 53-year-old, who was once widely seen as his father's heir apparent, was reported by the head of his political team on Tuesday.
His sister told Libyan television that he had died near the country's border with Algeria, without confirming how. It remains unclear how he died, with varying reports circulating in Libyan media.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has long been seen as the most influential and feared figure in the country after his father, who ruled Libya from 1969 until his overthrow and killing during an uprising in 2011.
Born in 1972, he played a key role in Libya's rapprochement with the West from 2000 until the fall of the Gaddafi regime. After the departure of his father, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who was accused of playing a key role in the brutal suppression of anti-government protests, was imprisoned by a rival militia in the town of Zintan for almost six years.
What allegedly happened?
The son of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was allegedly killed in a clash with the 444th Brigade, a prominent Tripoli-based militia, according to reports circulating on February 3. Details of the alleged clash remain unclear.
There is no information about the location or specific circumstances of the alleged confrontation. Libya has experienced repeated militia violence in recent years, particularly in Tripoli, involving armed groups that control territory within the country's divided government structure.
The 444th Brigade, led by Mahmoud Hamza, is affiliated with the UN-recognized Government of National Accord under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. The group was involved in a May 2025 clash linked to the assassination of the head of the Stability Support Authority, Abdelghani al-Kikli, that left at least six dead in Tripoli.
-Saif al-Islam's attempt to return from hiding
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, born around 1972, is the second son of Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya from 1969 until his overthrow and death during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. Educated at the London School of Economics, Saif al-Islam positioned himself as a reformist in his father's regime and was seen as a potential successor.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in June 2011 on charges of crimes against humanity, including the killing and persecution of civilians during efforts to suppress protests. The militia captured him in 2011 but released him in 2017 under an amnesty deal.
Since his release, Saif al-Islam has been maneuvering for a political comeback from hiding, announcing a presidential run in 2021. Libya's repeatedly postponed elections have prevented any vote. Supporters see him as a potential unifying figure, while critics link him to the abuses of the former regime.
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