The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has expressed deep concern and strongly condemned reports of the killing of Libyan political figure Saïf al-Islam Gaddafi in the western Libyan city of Zintan.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Youssouf warned that the reported killing risks further undermining fragile efforts aimed at achieving a credible, inclusive and lasting political transition in Libya, which has remained mired in instability since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011.
Saïf al-Islam Gaddafi, aged 53 and the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, was reportedly shot dead on February 3, 2026, after armed assailants stormed his residence in Zintan, according to Libyan officials and local media reports. The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identity of the perpetrators and their motives, remain unclear.
Once widely viewed as his father’s political heir, Saïf al-Islam Gaddafi remained a prominent and polarising figure in Libya’s fractured political landscape. He had previously declared his intention to contest the presidency as the country struggled to organise elections and unify its divided institutions.
The AU Commission Chairperson extended condolences to the family of the deceased and to all those affected by the incident, emphasising that political differences must be resolved through peaceful and lawful means.
Youssouf called on the Libyan authorities to uphold the rule of law by ensuring a thorough, transparent and credible investigation into the killing and by bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with national and international legal standards.
He also urged all Libyan political actors to exercise restraint and remain calm, warning against actions that could inflame tensions or derail ongoing political processes.
Reaffirming the African Union’s position, Youssouf stated that the AU remains fully committed to supporting the Libyan people and institutions in their pursuit of a durable, consensual and peaceful resolution to the country’s prolonged political and security crisis.
Prominent Gaddafi son Saif al-Islam reportedly killed in western Libya, sources say
