Wanted son of late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam, announced Sunday his candidacy for the country’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary polls to be held on December 24.
Seif al-Islam’s whereabouts have been largely unknown for several months. He is emerging as a frontrunner in Libya’s first ever direct presidential poll.
The emergence of a winner would mark the climax of a United Nations backed process to normalise the oil-rich nation since the revolt that toppled Gaddafi in 2011.
He is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the NATO-backed uprising, Seif al-Islam has however completed “all the required legal conditions”, the election commission said.
“Seif al-Islam Gaddafi submitted… his candidacy for the presidential election to the High National Electoral Commission office in the city of Sebha,” it said in a statement.
The commission released pictures showing the 49-year old Seif al-Islam dressed in a traditional Bedouin robe and headdress. He was issued with a voter registration card for the southern Sebha district.
Four months ago, Seif al-Islam emerged from years in the shadows and told The New York Times he was planning a political comeback.
Many Libyans view Seif’s comback with mixed feelings following speculations over his possible presidential bid even though he had been sentenced to death by a Tripoli court in 2017 for crimes committed during the uprising.