Wished by the Worldwide Prison Court docket (ICC) for crimes in opposition to humanity allegedly dedicated through the NATO-backed rebellion, Seif al-Islam accomplished “all of the required authorized circumstances”, the election fee mentioned.
“Seif al-Islam Kadhafi submitted… his candidacy for the presidential election to the Excessive Nationwide Electoral Fee workplace within the metropolis of Sebha,” it mentioned in an announcement.
The 49-year-old, sporting a salt-and-pepper beard, recited a verse from the Koran and thanked these aiding him, saying “God bless you”, video footage confirmed.
The fee launched footage exhibiting Seif al-Islam wearing a conventional Bedouin gown and headdress. He was issued with a voter registration card for the southern Sebha district.
First reactions on the streets of the capital Tripoli have been destructive.
“As an alternative of resolving the issue this solely complicates issues additional. It is simply not proper!”” mentioned Nizar al-Hadi, 33.
Supply: Getty Photos North America
Ramzi Douess mentioned he didn’t doubt that some folks would settle for Seif’s candidacy, however questioned what route he would lead the North African nation on if he received.
“Will he settle for Libya as it’s in the present day, or will he take it backwards?” Mr Douess requested.
Political comeback
Libya opened registration for candidates in presidential and parliamentary polls final Monday.
Each are slated for 24 December, however in early October parliament cut up the dates of the vote by suspending legislative elections till January.
Overseas powers have been pushing exhausting for each elections to be nonetheless held on the identical date, as agreed at UN-led talks final 12 months.
Hypothesis had been mounting for months over a attainable presidential bid by Seif al-Islam, who was additionally sentenced to demise by a Tripoli court docket in 2017 for crimes dedicated through the revolt.
Learn Extra
In July, Seif al-Islam emerged from years within the shadows and instructed The New York Instances he was planning a political comeback.
In a uncommon interview, he mentioned he needed to “restore the misplaced unity” of Libya after a decade of chaos.
“I have been away from the Libyan folks for 10 years. It’s essential come again slowly, slowly. Like a striptease. It’s essential play with their minds a bit of,” the paper quoted him as saying.
Till the interview, Seif al-Islam had not been seen or heard from since June 2014, when he appeared by way of video hyperlink from Zintan, within the west of the nation, throughout his trial by the Tripoli court docket.
Though the court docket sentenced him to demise in absentia, a rival administration within the east pardoned him.
The militia that was holding him in Zintan has repeatedly refused at hand him over to The Hauge-based ICC, and freed him in 2017.
A spokesman for the ICC, Fadi Abdallah, instructed Libya’s Al-Ahrar tv that the court docket nonetheless desires Seif al-Islam.
‘Crossroads’
Analysts say Seif al-Islam’s bid for the presidency shall be problematic for Libya’s electoral course of.
“That is solely going to complicate the electoral course of additional,” mentioned Wolfram Lacher, a senior affiliate on the German Institute for Worldwide and Safety Affairs.
Supply: AFP
World powers assembly in Paris warned Friday that Libya was at a “crossroads” which might decide its future.
“We urge all Libyan stakeholders and candidates to respect their commitments in the direction of holding elections on 24 December 2021 (and) to simply accept the outcomes of free, truthful and inclusive elections,” they mentioned.
Regardless of a 12 months of relative peace following a ceasefire between japanese and western camps, the method has been overshadowed by wrangling over the authorized foundation for the polls and the powers hooked up.
Some additionally anticipate attainable presidential bids by eastern-based navy chief Khalifa Haftar and present Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah.
Former inside minister Fathi Bashagha has confirmed he’ll run, whereas others anticipated to take action embrace two diplomats and a comic.