Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Laid to Rest as Libya Braces for Renewed Uncertainty

Large crowds gather in Bani Walid for the funeral of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, killed in a shooting at his home, authorities say. [Getty]

Bani Walid, Libya — Friday, February 6, 2026

Thousands of mourners gathered on Friday in the central Libyan town of Bani Walid to bid farewell to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the 53-year-old son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, whose assassination earlier this week has reignited fears of renewed political instability in the country.

Saif al-Islam was buried amid heavy emotion and heightened security, bringing an end to a chapter that had remained unresolved since the 2011 uprising that toppled his father’s government. His death has shattered more than a decade of relative quiet surrounding the Gaddafi family and injected new uncertainty into Libya’s already fragile political landscape.

A Calculated Assassination

The killing occurred on Tuesday, February 3, in the mountain town of Zintan, where Saif al-Islam had been living since his release from militia custody in 2017. Investigators from the Libyan Prosecutor General’s Office described the attack as a highly coordinated and premeditated operation.

Saif Al Islam Qaddafi, standing, was a prominent figure under his father Muammar's regime in Libya. AFP

According to preliminary findings, four masked men infiltrated the residence after disabling the home’s surveillance system. Once inside, they opened fire, fatally wounding Saif al-Islam before escaping. No arrests have been made, and no group has claimed responsibility. The timing of the assassination has drawn widespread attention. It came just days after a high-level meeting in Paris involving rival Libyan factions, prompting analysts to suggest that Saif al-Islam’s potential re-emergence as a political “third-way” candidate may have made him a target for actors benefiting from the current political deadlock.

A Funeral Marked by Symbolism

Bani Walid, long considered a stronghold of Gaddafi-era loyalists, was awash in plain green flags—the national banner during Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule. Mourners carried portraits of both father and son, chanting slogans that reflected lingering nostalgia for the pre-2011 period.

Saif al-Islam’s brother, Mohamed Gaddafi, who remains in exile, expressed his grief in a social media post, lamenting his inability to return home to attend the burial. As crowds swelled to near-unmanageable levels, the interment was eventually conducted by a smaller group of family members and close supporters at Al-Qurayrat cemetery.

Justice Unfulfilled

For years, Saif al-Islam existed in a legal and political limbo. Supporters viewed him as a potential reconciliatory figure capable of bridging Libya’s divisions. The International Criminal Court (ICC), however, regarded him as a fugitive wanted for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the 2011 crackdown.

Saif al-Islam was killed on Tuesday at his home in the town of Zintan, south west of Tripoli [Getty]

His death effectively closes one of the ICC’s most prominent and long-running cases. Human rights organisations expressed concern that victims may never see accountability. “It is a sad day for justice if this file is closed without a trial,” one advocate noted.

An Uncertain Path Forward

Libya remains divided between the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli and an eastern-based rival administration. With Saif al-Islam, described by some analysts as the “last viable spoiler” in Libya’s political stalemate, now gone, uncertainty surrounds the roadmap toward proposed elections scheduled for April 2026.

As investigators continue to probe the assassination, many Libyans fear the killing may join a long list of unresolved political crimes. Whether those responsible will be identified remains unclear, raising concerns that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi’s death may become yet another cold case in Libya’s prolonged era of instability.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's death; Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's assassination; Saif Gaddafi funeral Bani Walid; Libya's political instability 2026; Gaddafi family news; Libya assassination Zintan; Libya elections 2026; Libya political crisis; International Criminal Court's Saif Gaddafi; Libya unrest after Gaddafi; Muammar Gaddafi's legacy; Libya's rival governments; Libya security situation