The son of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi reportedly wants to run for president of the country in elections later this year. The candidacy of Saif…
The son of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi reportedly wants to run for president of the country in elections later this year.
The candidacy of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi — who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity — was announced by the Libyan Popular Front party on Monday, according to London’s Telegraph newspaper .
Saif al-Islam, 45, is currently in hiding. The political party said they would address the country about his plans.
Human rights activist Khaled Guel told the pan-Arab newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed that things are so bad in Libya that people want Gadhafi to take over.
“The humanitarian situation is deteriorating and the path forward is unclear,” said Guel.
“Therefore many Libyans now believe that the only way to save the country is through Saif al-Islam.”
Moammar Gadhafi was killed in 2011 after overseeing a bloody suppression of an uprising against him.
Saif al-Islam was held by a militia for six years and released last year and granted amnesty by a local government.
A court in Tripoli, however sentenced him to death, in absentia, in 2015 for crimes committed during the revolution.
He is accused of inciting violence and murdering protesters.
