Libya Remains Divided After Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's Assassination in February 2026 (defence24.com)

• Saif al-Islam Gaddafi assassinated on February 3, 2026, in Zintan.
• Libya has two rival governments and multiple foreign military presences.
• External actors (Turkey, Russia, Egypt, UAE) sustain the division.
• War economy with fuel smuggling hinders peace process.
• Planned April 2026 elections canceled; UN roadmap stalled.

"On February 3, 2026, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former ruler, was shot dead in Zintan. He was a candidate in the presidential election scheduled for April 2026. Libya has been divided since 2014 between two governments and multiple foreign armies, sustained by a war economy that makes peace unprofitable for power holders. The April elections did not take place. The assassination removes a third political option and deepens the stalemate."