Thousands of people mourned the body of Saif al-Islam, son of Muammar Gaddafi, on Friday in Bani Walid in western Libya, a stronghold of supporters of the former regime who demonstrated in large numbers before the funeral, which was held under heavy security guard. Before Friday prayers, demonstrators roamed the streets of Bani Walid, raising the green flag of Gaddafi-era Libya and pictures of Saif al-Islam.

Published on: 06/02/2026 - 17:32

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Thousands of people attended the funeral of Saif al-Islam, Muammar Gaddafi's son, on Friday in Bani Walid, western Libya, a stronghold of supporters of the former regime.

Before Friday prayers, demonstrators roamed the streets of Bani Walid, raising the green flag of Gaddafi-era Libya and pictures of Saif al-Islam. They chanted slogans in support of Gaddafi and that the martyr's blood would not be in vain.

The city of Bani Walid, with a population of 100,000, is the stronghold of the powerful Warfalla tribe, which remained loyal to Colonel Gaddafi.

Read alsoLibya: Who is behind the killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and what are the repercussions on the political process in the country?

Every year, on the anniversary of his coup and assuming rule of Libya on September 1, 1969, the city raises green flags and its residents march carrying his picture.

The whereabouts of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi remained unknown until the announcement on Tuesday of his assassination at his home in the city of Zintan, 145 kilometers southwest of the capital, Tripoli.

The Public Prosecution opened an investigation to find the perpetrators, a group of four individuals, according to Saif al-Islam’s French lawyer.

Read also: The killing of Saif al-Islam, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, by gunmen

Bani Walid.. the stronghold of the powerful Warfalla tribe

Bani Walid, with a population of 100,000 people, is the stronghold of the powerful Warfalla tribe, which still commemorates Muammar Gaddafi since his overthrow in 2011.

Until the announcement on Tuesday of the assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in his home in the city of Zintan (northwestern Libya), his whereabouts remained unknown.

Saif al-Islam, 53, sought for years to appear as a moderate reformist, a reputation that collapsed when he vowed to shed “rivers of blood” to suppress the uprising against his father’s regime.

Saif al-Islam, against whom an international habeas corpus warrant was issued through Interpol, appeared before the Libyan judiciary between 2012 and 2013, and he, along with a number of symbols of his father’s rule, was later sentenced to death in 2015 on charges of committing genocide and suppressing the demonstrators of the Libyan revolution. But the gunmen who were holding him later refused to hand him over to the judiciary, and they released him in 2017.

In 2021, he submitted his candidacy for the presidential elections in person in the city of Sabha, relying on the support of supporters of the previous regime, but the election was postponed for political and security reasons.

Of Muammar Gaddafi's seven sons, only four remain alive: Muhammad, Al-Saadi, Hannibal, and his daughter Aisha, all of whom live outside Libya, hosted by several countries that granted them asylum, like their mother.

France 24/AFP

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