Sources report that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed, according to sources close to the family, his lawyer Khaled el-Zaydi, and Libyan media reports on Tuesday.

Libya’s Attorney General’s Office said on Wednesday that investigators and forensic experts examined Saif al-Islam’s body and concluded he died from gunshot wounds. In a statement, the office said efforts are underway to identify suspects and initiate the necessary legal proceedings.

Once a well-known figure in Libya—particularly for his influence on policymaking before 2011—Saif al-Islam’s public presence had diminished in recent years. In 2015, a Libyan court sentenced him to death in absentia for his role in suppressing peaceful protests during the 2011 uprising that ended his father’s rule.

He was also provisionally charged by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity, a case his legal team was unable to have dismissed.

In 2021, Saif al-Islam registered as a candidate in Libya’s planned presidential election, which was later postponed indefinitely amid ongoing political deadlock.