Libya: son of dictator Gaddafi is disqualified for the presidency

Benghazi (Libya): Libya’s main electoral body has said that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the country’s late dictator Moammar Gaddafi and his successor, has been disqualified from participating in next month’s presidential elections. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is ineligible to compete due to his previous conviction, according to a list of ineligible candidates released by the country’s top national electoral committee on Wednesday. You can appeal in court against the committee’s decision in the next few days.

Saif al-Islam was sentenced to death in 2015 by a court in the capital Tripoli for using violence against protesters demanding his father’s resignation. However, rival authorities in Libya questioned the decision. Saif al-Islam has also been declared wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity related to the 2011 uprising against his father.

Libya will hold its first round of presidential elections on December 24 after years of efforts under the leadership of the United Nations. The top UN envoy for Libya recently decided to resign due to complications and concerns over the elections, although he said on Wednesday that he was ready to remain in office if necessary through a vote.

Saif, the son of a former Libyan dictator, submitted his candidacy documents on November 14 in the city of Sabha, 650 km (400 miles) south of the capital Tripoli. This is the first time Saif al-Islam, 49, has appeared in public in years. He has a PhD from the London School of Economics. The announcement of his possible candidacy has sparked controversy across the country, where other high-profile candidates have also appeared in recent weeks. Several controversial candidates emerged earlier this month, including powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter and the country’s acting prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dabiba.

Meanwhile, UN envoy Jan Kubis submitted his resignation last week, although it was not made public until Tuesday. Kubis said he was willing to remain a special envoy during the December 24 elections, but the United Nations accepted his resignation, effective December 10. When asked about this, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the organization will continue to work with him until the search for a successor is completed. In a statement on Wednesday, the Security Council stressed the importance of the upcoming elections and called on the Libyan people to accept the results.