The Libyan electoral commission on Sunday said Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s late dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has registered as a presidential candidate for the country’s presidential election next month, reported Africa News.
In a statement, the election commission said Saif al-Islam submitted his candidacy papers in the southern town of Sabha, 650 km (400 miles) south of the capital of Tripoli.
The Libyan electoral body released a video in which Saif could be seen donning a traditional brown robe and turban, and with a grey beard and glasses, signing documents at the election center in Sabha. In the video, the 49-year-old Saif said God will decide the right path for the country’s future.
Fighters captured Gadhafi’s son in 2011, the year when a popular uprising ousted his father who was in power for more than 40 years. Muammar Gaddafi was later killed amid the ensuing fighting that would turn into a civil war.
Saif al-Islam was released in June 2017 after being in detention for more than five years. In July, he told The New York Times that he was considering a run for the country’s top office. He has not yet made any public appearance since then.
Gaddafi’s son is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the first weeks of the 2011 uprising.
The Libyan presidential elections are scheduled to be held on Dec. 24. The electoral body opened registration for candidates on Monday. The vote is still in doubt as rival entities argue over the rules and schedule.
Last week, several countries expressed support for holding free, fair, inclusive, and credible presidential and parliamentary elections next month. The World powers and the United Nations secretary-general have warned that anyone who tries to obstruct it or falsify the outcome will face sanctions.
