Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam registers to run for Libya presidency

Kadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam registers to run for Libya presidency

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 14 November 2021 12:35pm WAT

Seif al-Islam Kaidhafi, son of slain Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, waves during a meeting with young people in the capital Tripoli in this March 10, 2011 picture Mahmud TURKIA, - AFP/File

(FILES) This file TV-Grab made from Euronews channel on March 16, 2011 shows Saif al-Islam, the son of late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, giving an interview to Euronews. – Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who was once seen as his father’s successor, has not been seen or heard from publicly since he was captured ten years ago in the Libyan desert. He has been speaking with international media and says he wants to become Libya’s president. (Photo by – / EURONEWS / AFP)

Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, son of slain Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, registered Sunday to run in the country’s December presidential polls, the electoral commission said.

“Seif al-Islam Kadhafi submitted… his candidacy for the presidential election to the High National Electoral Commission office in the (southern) city of Sebha,” a statement by the commission said.
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It said he had completed “all the required legal conditions” and that he was also issued with a voter registration card for the Sebha district.

Seif al-Islam Kaidhafi, son of slain Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, waves during a meeting with young people in the capital Tripoli in this March 10, 2011 picture Mahmud TURKIA, – AFP/File

Libya’s first ever direct presidential poll, with a first round on December 24, is the climax of a process launched last year by the United Nations to draw a line under years of violence since the revolt that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Libya opened registration for candidates on Monday.
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In July, Seif al-Islam, 49, emerged from years in the shadows and told The New York Times he was planning a political comeback.

In a rare interview, he said he wanted to “restore the lost unity” of Libya after a decade of chaos and did not exclude standing for the presidency.
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The dictator’s erstwhile heir apparent is wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Until the interview, Seif al-Islam had not been seen or heard from since June 2014, when he appeared via video link from Zintan, in the west of the country, during his trial by a Tripoli court.
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