1. Allegations in French trial against Sarkozy
- In January 2025, Saif al‑Islam broke his media silence by confirming he personally handed over $5 million to Sarkozy’s campaign in two payments, and alleged Sarkozy’s team pressured him to retract his statement.
- He also mentioned attempts to influence his brother in prison to sway his testimony.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was placed under formal investigation in 2018 over allegations he received campaign funding from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (yalibnan.com)
2. Political activism and calls for reconciliation
- On April 14, 2025, Saif al‑Islam’s National Reconciliation Committee issued a public warning about rising militia tensions, urging inclusive political dialogue and country-wide unity.
Muammar Gaddafi’s former heir apparent has told FRANCE 24’s sister radio RFI that he was personally involved in giving Nicolas Sarkozy suitcases of cash ahead of his victorious 2007 presidential run (France24)
⚖️ 3. ICC arrest warrant & Human Rights Watch pressure
- On June 9, 2025, Human Rights Watch called on Libyan authorities to arrest Saif al‑Islam and surrender him to the International Criminal Court, citing outstanding warrants for crimes against humanity from the 2011 uprising.
- Libya, not being a party to the ICC, faces criticism for not cooperating with the Court despite new acceptance of ICC jurisdiction by Libya’s unity government in May almenassa.ly.
4. Political ambitions & previous election efforts
- He previously ran for president in late 2021, though his candidacy was initially disqualified and later reinstated due to legal appeals.
- In November 2024, he claimed a “landslide victory” in local municipal elections—though officials questioned the authenticity of those results.
Saif al‑Islam has re-emerged prominently in Libyan public life—breaking silence to influence a high-profile French trial, cautioning against renewed conflict in Libya, and stirring legal pressure for his surrender to the ICC. His political activity hints at continued ambitions, but international accountability and internal rivalries remain pressing obstacles.
