CAIRO —
The son and one-time inheritor obvious of late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi introduced Sunday his candidacy for the nation’s presidential election subsequent month, Libya’s election company stated.
Seif al-Islam, who is needed by the Worldwide Felony Court docket on fees of crimes towards humanity associated to the 2011 rebellion, submitted his candidacy papers within the southern city of Sabha, 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of the capital of Tripoli, the Excessive Nationwide Elections Fee stated in a press release.
Gadhafi’s son was captured by fighters within the city of Zintan late in 2011, the yr when a well-liked rebellion, backed by the NATO, toppled his father after greater than 40 years in energy. Moammar Gadhafi was later killed amid the following combating that may flip right into a civil conflict.
In a video shared by an election official, Seif al-Islam addressed the digital camera, saying that God will determine the proper path for the nation’s future. He wore a standard Libyan gown and turban and spectacles. It was the primary time in years that Seif al-Islam appeared in public.
Seif al-Islam, who was seen because the reformist face of Gadhafi’s regime earlier than the 2011 rebellion, was launched in June 2017 after greater than 5 years of detention. In July he advised The New York Occasions in an unique interview that he was contemplating a run for the nation’s prime workplace. His candidacy is more likely to stir controversy throughout the divided nation.
Seif al-Islam is needed by the ICC on fees of crimes towards humanity allegedly dedicated within the first weeks of the 2011 rebellion.
ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah declined to touch upon Seif al-Islam’s candidacy.
“The Court docket does not touch upon political points, as for the authorized aspect there’s a pending warrant of arrest and that hasn’t modified,” he stated.
Gadhafi’s son, who has deeply rooted hyperlinks to tribes throughout Libya, is the primary main presidential hopeful to submit his candidacy to run for the nation’s highest put up. Additionally extensively anticipated to announce their bids are highly effective army commander Khalifa Hifter, Parliament Speaker Agila Saleh and former Inside Minister Fathi Bashaga.
The election company started the registration course of for presidential and parliamentary hopefuls final week. Potential candidates have till Nov. 22 to register to run for the nation’s highest put up, whereas parliamentary hopefuls have till Dec. 7 to register their candidacies.
Libya is ready to carry presidential elections on Dec. 24, after years of UN-led makes an attempt to usher in a extra democratic future and convey the nation’s conflict to an finish. Following the overthrow and killing of Gadhafi, oil-rich Libya spent many of the final decade spilt between rival governments — one based mostly within the capital, Tripoli, and the opposite within the jap a part of the nation.
The announcement got here after a global convention in Paris on Friday expressed help for holding “free, honest, inclusive and credible presidential and parliamentary elections” on Dec. 24.
The long-awaited vote nonetheless faces challenges, together with unresolved points over election legal guidelines and occasional infighting amongst armed teams. Different obstacles embody the deep rift that is still between the nation’s east and west, cut up for years by the conflict, and the presence of hundreds of international fighters and troops.
Gadhafi the dictator had eight youngsters, most of whom performed vital roles in his regime. His son Muatassim was killed on the similar time Gadhafi was captured and slain. Two different sons, Seif al-Arab and Khamis, had been killed earlier within the rebellion. One other son, al-Saadi Gadhafi, was launched in September after greater than seven years of detention within the capital of Tripoli following his extradition from neighboring Niger.
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Related Press writher Mike Corder contributed from The Hague, Netherlands.
