Kaddafi's son funeral was shocking in scale, Libyans knew what would happen today, why did they do it in the first place: war and chaos, people are suffering!
In early February 2026, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi, died, and his funeral was held in the suburbs of Tripoli. Although the official number of attendees was not disclosed, on-site footage showed that thousands of people gathered spontaneously to bid farewell to this political figure who had once been seen as a "successor." Among the crowd were the elderly, young people, and even those who had participated in the 2011 anti-Gaddafi uprising - this scene is both surprising and thought-provoking.
In 2011, with NATO's support, the opposition overthrew Gaddafi's regime, and many Libyans cheered "freedom has finally come." However, the change of regime did not bring stability. The country quickly fell into a power vacuum, with various armed groups fighting for control, leading to a long-standing confrontation between the two governments in the east and west. Foreign powers took advantage of the situation, with countries such as Turkey, Russia, Egypt, and the UAE supporting their own agents. Oil facilities were frequently attacked, and the economy was nearly paralyzed, with inflation rates soaring to triple digits, and ordinary people struggled to secure basic electricity and drinking water.
Under these circumstances, the longing for "order" quietly resurfaced. Although Saif al-Islam was wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, he represented an "old era with governance capability" in the eyes of some domestic groups. He once led Libya's reform agenda in the 2000s, promoting relations with the West, and was even seen as a modernizer at one point. Although his family's rule was characterized by authoritarianism and corruption, at least before 2011, Libya's per capita GDP was among the highest in Africa, with relatively well-developed infrastructure and controllable public security.
The high attendance at the funeral was not simply out of nostalgia for the Gaddafi family, but more a reflection of the people's despair with the current situation. A Benghazi resident who attended the funeral told Reuters afterwards: "We thought that getting rid of Gaddafi would lead to a better life, but what happened? Our children starve in school, hospitals lack medicine, and explosions happen anywhere on the street." This kind of emotion is not uncommon throughout Libya.
Notably, although Saif al-Islam had not actually held power in recent years, he remained a potential variable in the political game. He had repeatedly signaled his intention to run for president and briefly obtained election eligibility in 2021, which was later revoked. His death not only ended the life of a political symbol, but may also accelerate the restructuring of Libya's power structure. Currently, the western part is controlled by the UN-recognized government, while the eastern part is dominated by General Haftar. Although both sides signed a fragile ceasefire agreement in 2025, local armed groups still frequently clash.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856440687832265/
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