Thousands Attend Funeral of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Libya

Funeral for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Held in Bani Walid

Thousands of people attended the funeral of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s most prominent son, who was shot dead on Tuesday in his home in Zintan. The burial took place on Friday in the town of Bani Walid, approximately 175 kilometers south of Tripoli.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was killed during a “direct confrontation” with four unknown gunmen who broke into his residence, according to his office. An investigation is underway to identify suspects and determine the circumstances surrounding his death. The body of the 53-year-old was examined by investigators and forensic doctors, who confirmed that he died from gunshot wounds.

The funeral procession drew large crowds, with many attendees expressing their condolences for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. Waad Ibrahim, a 33-year-old woman from Sirte, stated, “We are here to accompany our beloved one, the son of our leader in whom we placed our hope and our future.”

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was once seen as a potential successor to his father’s leadership, with some describing him as the de facto prime minister under Muammar Gaddafi’s rule. He had previously led talks on Libya abandoning its nuclear program and negotiated compensation for families affected by the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

The killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi comes amid ongoing divisions in Libya, with the country still split between two rival governments: one based in Tripoli and another backed by Khalifa Haftar. The latest development follows a reported meeting between Haftar’s son and advisers to the UN-backed government earlier this month.

Source: Al Jazeera