Gaddafi’s son officially announced his candidacy as the next president of Libya

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity, has announced his candidacy for the country’s presidential election next month.

Libya’s high national election commission said in a statement that the dictator’s one-time successor submitted his candidacy papers in the southern city of Sabah.

Wearing a grey-beard and glasses, he appeared in an election commission video in a traditional brown robe and turban signing documents.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, 49, announced his candidacy for the country’s presidential election last month.

The 49-year-old, whose candidacy is likely to be controversial, was captured by fighters in late 2011, the year his father was toppled in a popular revolt after more than 40 years in power.

Muammar Gaddafi was later executed in the midst of fighting that would turn into a civil war.

The now presidential candidate was released in June 2017 after being held in custody for more than five years.

After years of UN-led efforts to usher in a more democratic future and end the war, Libya is set to hold a presidential election on December 24.

Before the death of his father Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was the heir to the ruling Libya.

The long-awaited vote still faces challenges, including unresolved issues over election laws and occasional fighting between armed groups.

Other barriers include the deep rift between the east and west of the country, divided over the years by the war, and the presence of thousands of foreign fighters and soldiers.

A major convention in Paris agreed on Friday to approve anyone who obstructs or halts the vote, but with less than six weeks to go, there is still no agreement on rules to govern who. Must be able to walk.

Gaddafi on Euronews in 2011, the year his father was captured by fighters after he was toppled in a popular rebellion after more than 40 years in power

speaking in an interview with the new York Times This July, Gaddafi said he wanted to ‘restore lost unity’ after a decade of chaos following the death of his father.

Before his father’s death in 2011, Gaddafi was the heir to the ruling Libya.

He told the newspaper that in the decade since his father’s arrest and assassination, politicians have brought “nothing from grief” to Libya and have refused to apologize for the atrocities perpetrated by the dictator’s regime.

Gaddafi’s absence was tried by a Tripoli court in 2015, in which he appeared via videolink to Zintan.

Gaddafi defended his father’s record as leader, claiming that most Libyans now think the government should have taken a tougher stand against the rebels.

He also said: ‘I have been away from the Libyan people for 10 years.

‘You need to come back slowly, slowly. Like striptease. You need to play with his mind a little bit.

Gaddafi was tried in absentia by a Tripoli court in 2015, in which he appeared via video link to Zintan.

He was sentenced to death for war crimes including killing protesters during the 2011 uprising and could face arrest or other threats if he appears in public in the capital Tripoli.

Eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar, Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dabiba and parliament speaker Aguila Saleh are also candidates in the upcoming election.