Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, has been reportedly killed in the western Libyan city of Zintan.
The 53-year-old, who was long seen as his father’s political heir, was said to have been shot dead on Tuesday, February 3, where he had been based for the past decade.
His death was confirmed by the head of his political team, according to the Libyan News Agency.
His sister also told Libyan television that Saif al-Islam died near the country’s border with Algeria, although she did not disclose the cause of death.
Reacting to the development, the former head of the Tripoli-based High State Council, Khaled al-Mishri, called for an “urgent and transparent investigation” into the killing in a post shared on social media on Tuesday.
Although he never held an official government position, Saif al-Islam was widely regarded as one of the most powerful and influential figures in Libya during his father’s 42-year rule, which lasted from 1969 until 2011.
He was captured in Zintan in 2011 while trying to flee the country after opposition forces took control of Tripoli during the uprising that led to his father’s downfall and death.
Saif al-Islam was later released in 2017 under a general amnesty.
His reported assassination comes amid Libya’s continued political instability and renewed calls for accountability over politically motivated killings in the country.
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