The New Africa Magazine/ Dr Filomena Mathins

For many years his father’s heir
apparent, Gadafy cultivated the image
of a moderniser who wanted to bring
human rights to Libya. But when protests
erupted in 2011, he warned of rivers
of blood and was filmed brandishing
a machine gun and vowing to crush
insurgents.
The UN and western governments hope
the elections will help turn a corner in a
country where militias have held sway
for most of the past decade and foreign
governments have engaged in proxy
wars by sending arms and mercenaries.
Some 98 candidates have registered for
the poll, but the electoral commission
disqualified 25 last week, including
Gadafy.
Analysts say Gadafy has appeal among
those nostalgic for stability after a
decade of chaos and lawlessness.
He also has a natural constituency
among certain tribes and regions
which benefited under his father. He is,
however, a polarising figure who is hated
by many of those who rose up in 2011.
Powerful militias in western Libya have
rejected his candidacy. Some even
reportedly blockaded the Sebha court
this week to prevent consideration of his
appeal.
Other prominent candidates include
Khalifa Haftar, the strongman who
controls eastern Libya and who launched
in 2019 an ultimately-failed military
offensive to capture Tripoli in the west,
and seize control of the country. Another
candidate is Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh,
prime minister of the Government of
National Unity. His candidacy is in breach
of a pledge he made not to run as a
condition for heading the GNU whose
main task was to prepare the election. A
court in Tripoli rejected several appeals
to disqualify him.
Analysts say there is still uncertainty the
election will be held on time and some
have warned it could trigger further
turmoil if the results are not accepted by
the losers.