Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Thousands of mourners gathered on Friday in the western Libyan city of Bani Walid to attend the funeral of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, following reports of his killing earlier this week. The city, a stronghold of the Warfalla tribe and long considered a bastion of support for the former regime, witnessed large demonstrations ahead of the burial amid heavy security measures.
Before Friday prayers, crowds marched through the streets of Bani Walid carrying the green flag associated with Libya during the Gaddafi era and holding photographs of Saif al-Islam. The funeral and accompanying demonstrations underscored the continued influence of former-regime loyalists more than a decade after the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
According to multiple reports, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was killed late Tuesday night or early Wednesday when four unidentified gunmen stormed his residence in the mountainous town of Al-Hamada near Zintan, about 140 kilometers southwest of Tripoli. The attackers reportedly disabled surveillance cameras before opening fire. No group has claimed responsibility for the killing, and investigations are ongoing.
The circumstances surrounding the killing have heightened fears of renewed internal conflict in Libya, a country already fractured by rival governments, armed militias, and stalled political processes. Analysts warn that the incident could further complicate efforts led by the United Nations to revive a political roadmap toward long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, 53, held a highly symbolic position in Libya’s political landscape. For his supporters, he represented a reformist current linked to the former regime and a potential alternative to the entrenched political and military elites that have dominated Libya since 2011. He attempted to run in the presidential elections scheduled for 2021, which were ultimately postponed indefinitely due to disputes over the constitutional framework and candidate eligibility.
Libyan political researcher Mahmoud Ismail Al-Ramli described Saif al-Islam as a figure closely tied to Libya’s past, arguing that his political project was viewed by many as an attempt by former-regime loyalists to circumvent the legacy of the February 2011 uprising. However, Al-Ramli noted that his killing marks a major turning point, saying that Libya’s political landscape “will not be the same after this event,” while suggesting that some actors may seek to use the moment to push toward stabilization.
At the same time, Al-Ramli acknowledged the complexity of the issue, recalling longstanding international demands for Saif al-Islam to face justice for alleged crimes committed during the 2011 conflict. He argued that, despite these unresolved legal and moral questions, the aftermath of the killing could reshape the political process in unpredictable ways.
Other analysts expressed far more pessimistic views. Libyan journalist and writer Khalil Al-Hassi, speaking from Geneva, said the killing would likely have a deeply negative impact on Libya’s political trajectory. He argued that those who benefit most from Saif al-Islam’s removal are forces of chaos in western Libya, particularly in Tripoli, whose interests are tied to continued instability. According to Al-Hassi, the killing risks pushing Libya back toward the dynamics of civil war seen in the aftermath of 2011, rather than opening a path toward reconciliation.
Al-Hassi cited multiple factors that may have made Saif al-Islam a target, including his long-standing legal pursuit by the International Criminal Court, security pressures in Zintan, tribal and local rivalries, and his declared intention to participate in presidential elections. Taken together, he said, these elements turned him into a high-risk political figure.
Similar concerns were raised by political analyst Abdullah Al-Aali, who noted the difficulty of identifying those responsible for the killing. He suggested that factions opposed to the former Gaddafi regime, and wary of Saif al-Islam’s remaining popularity in southern and western Libya, may have viewed him as a dangerous electoral rival.
From an international perspective, Libyan journalist Kamel Marrash, based in Paris, argued that foreign actors could also benefit from Saif al-Islam’s disappearance. He pointed to sensitive files related to alleged corruption and bribery involving the former regime, suggesting that some external powers might prefer those chapters of Libya’s past to remain closed.
Hichem Obeidi, professor of international relations at the University of Geneva, described Saif al-Islam as an increasingly “uncomfortable political figure” since announcing his presidential bid in 2021. According to Obeidi, his refusal to align himself with powerful militias or established political parties, and his rejection of Libya’s existing political class, set him apart but also left him exposed.
Obeidi warned that the killing is likely to slow the UN-led political process, as Saif al-Islam commanded a significant support base among former-regime loyalists and many Libyans frustrated with the recycling of the same political elites. His absence, Obeidi said, removes a key mobilizing figure and deepens the sense of exclusion felt by segments of the population.
As Libya grapples with the fallout, the killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has reopened unresolved questions about justice, reconciliation, and political inclusion in a country still struggling to define its post-2011 identity. Whether the event becomes a catalyst for renewed conflict or a turning point toward a reconfigured political process remains uncertain, but few observers believe its impact will be short-lived.
