Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Funeral in Bani Walid Draws Thousands

Thousands of Gaddafi loyalists gathered in Bani Walid on Friday for the funeral of Saif al-Islam Muammar Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former dictator, underscoring the persistent political divisions plaguing the country since the 2011 uprising.

Saif al-Islam was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his home in Zintan on Tuesday. Once considered his father’s heir apparent, his killing removes a prominent figure from Libya’s fractured political landscape. The burial site, Bani Walid, is a traditional stronghold of the Warfalla tribe and, along with Sirte, was one of the last loyalist holdouts during the Arab Spring rebellion that ousted and killed Muammar Gaddafi.

The large turnout, including attendees traveling from across Libya, highlighted the enduring support for the Gaddafi family among a significant segment of the population. The event was tightly secured. “We are here to accompany our beloved one, the son of our leader in whom we placed our hope and our future,” said Waad Ibrahim, a woman from Sirte. She blamed Libya’s rival eastern and western governments for his death, referencing a recent US-brokered meeting in Paris between officials from both sides.

Officials from Libya’s two main rival administrations—the Tripoli-based UN-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) and the eastern-based Government of National Stability—did not attend. Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah of the GNU condemned the killing, stating that “assassinations never provided stability… but rather deepen division.” He reaffirmed his administration’s goal of a state governed by law and institutions.

Analysts note his death could impact the stalled electoral process. Saif al-Islam had announced his candidacy for president in 2021, but was disqualified by the elections committee. The polls, intended to unify Libya under a UN agreement, have been indefinitely postponed over disputes on the constitutional framework and candidate eligibility.

Tripoli resident Sabri Gachout linked the assassination directly to the elections, claiming Saif al-Islam was removed from the race. “He had a good chance and was a leader for us,” Gachout said.

The funeral in Bani Walid, a town that annually celebrates the 1969 coup that brought Gaddafi to power, has become a stark symbol of Libya’s unresolved conflict. It demonstrated the mobilising power of Gaddafi-era nostalgia while reinforcing the chasm between rival political factions, each of which accuses the other of obstructing a democratic transition. Saif al-Islam’s burial has been framed by supporters as a martyrdom, a narrative that may further entrench political polarisation ahead of any future reconciliation efforts.