Libya: Will Saif al-Islam Kadhafi return to politics?
Reuters
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3 min
If we are to believe what he suggested to the
New York Times
, this return would reshuffle the cards on the political scene in Libya.
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It was the first time in a decade and the overthrow of his father that he had spoken in the international press: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi told the
New York Times
at the end of last week that he was considering a return to politics in Libya, while remaining vague on its program and on a possible presidential candidacy scheduled for the end of the year. He noted that Libyan political leaders have "
brought nothing but misery
" and considered that "
the time has come to return to the past
".
Apart from the controversy strongly engaged on social networks, between the pros and cons of his announced return to politics, and apart from the tribes who are still loyal to him and who have welcomed this return, few politicians have officially reacted to his comments.
Saif al-Islam's statements, however, caused surprise and fear and left the political class perplexed.
He wanted to send several messages at the same time: to say that he is alive and in good health, that he is in Libya and that he has the right to stand for election like any Libyan citizen.
The candidate of the disappointed in the uprising of ten years ago
The Islamists who dominate western Libya seem to be still in shock after the publication of recent photos of Saif al-Islam and this after convincing their supporters of his death while living in recluse in Zentan. These photos tell them that they must now come to terms with him after he spoke of his gradual return to the political scene. In the interview with the American newspaper, he actually only confirmed remarks repeated since 2016 by his relatives and sympathizers who launched a campaign for his election to the presidential election. They consider him to be the “Libyan Mandela” and the only person capable of reuniting and securing the country. Many Libyans, disappointed with the results of the 2011 uprising, share this view after ten years of chaos.
As for Khalifa Haftar who dominates the east of the country, he risks being the biggest loser in the event of the return of Saif al-Islam, a real competitor for the marshal who fears his popularity.
Saif al-Islam, if he is a candidate for the next presidential election, would be a real threat to Khalifa Haftar, half of his forces being made up of loyalists to the old regime.
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