Al Gaddafi | The Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya (PFLL)

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya (PFLL)—Arabic: Al-Jabha Al-Sha‘biyya li‑Tahrir Libya—is a Gaddafi-aligned political party and militia founded on December 26, 2016, with the declared goal of restoring Libyan sovereignty and electing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi as president. Despite the fall of Colonel Muammar al‑Gaddafi in 2011, the PFLL claims continuity with his ideology and positions itself as a defender of Third International Theory, Islamic socialism, and pan-Arabism

• Aims & Ideology

• Gaddafi Loyalism: Advocates reinstating Saif al-Islam Gaddafi as Libya’s leader
• Anti-Imperialism: Rejects UN and NATO interventions as conspiratorial aggressions
• Sovereign State-Building: Seeks to rebuild Libya free from foreign-backed militias or religious extremists WikipediaQA Edu
• PFLL's founding declaration frames the 2011 uprising as part of a plot that dismantled Libya’s sovereignty and institutions, fragmenting the nation into a failed state dominated by external and militant forces INTERNATIONALIST 360°.

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• Timeline of Activities & Milestones

• As of July 2025, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya, led by Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi, retains a modest yet symbolically powerful presence within Libya’s fractured political landscape. Its historical legacy offers a rare continuity with Libya’s past system, and its military ties lend strategic weight. However, meaningful expansion of its influence remains constrained by endemic political paralysis, institutional distrust, and limited electoral traction. Future impact will likely hinge on Saif’s ability to run in genuinely inclusive elections and whether Libya can finally overcome the cycles of division.
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• The PFLL has maintained close operational ties with General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), participating in multiple offensives, including the 2019 Western Libya campaign. It reportedly controls parts of oil infrastructure and has secured support from tribal networks.
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• Analysis & Significance

• PFLL positions itself as a bridge between Libya’s revolutionary past and a nationalist future, appealing to:
• Pro-Gaddafi constituencies, especially those seeking continuity of his ideology
• Nationalist factions wary of foreign-backed militias and Western-aligned governments
• Former regime loyalists and tribal networks aligned with Gaddafi-era narratives.
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• Yet, as of the moment, due to artificial suppression, its influence remains limited on the national political stage. As of recent electoral data, the PFLL holds 11 seats (as of 2022) in the House of Representatives—a small minority compared to other parties. However, Saif-Al Islam Gaddafi claims, there are many more supporters!
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• The Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya is a modern extension of Gaddafi-era political currents—asserting loyalty to his ideas and attempting to channel past state power into contemporary Libyan politics. It bridges nostalgia for the old regime with ongoing conflict dynamics, but its future depends on Saif al-Islam’s political trajectory, tribal loyalty, and the broader fragmentation of Libyan politics.
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• Political Trajectory

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• Saif al-Islam’s Candidacy: In March 2018, Saif formally announced his intention to run for president under the PFLL banner 
• 2024 Though elections were postponed, he has campaigned consistently as a candidate representing continuity with his father's vision.
• Popular Support: Reports indicate a pro-Saif faction in Zintan publicly supporting his campaign in October 2024, signaling the first military-aligned endorsement from within a city that historically opposed the regime.
• This marks the first time since the fall of his father's Green Libya, that a Libyan military force has declared support for Saif al-Islam. Interestingly, this support emerged from a city that played a significant role in the revolution, where an armed brigade from Zintan was responsible for capturing him in 2011 and imprisoning him for several years before his release in 2017.
• International Messaging: Through the Libyan National Reconciliation Committee, Saif-aligned officials have warned against new militia escalation and urged inclusive national dialogue aimed at preventing further division and civil war.

Link to: 

• Founding Declaration of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Libya