Sayyid Gaddaf al-Dam

Sayyid Mohammed Gaddaf al-Dam (25 February 1948 – 16 March 2023) was a Libyan brigadier general and a cousin of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and older brother of Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam.[1][2] He was part of Gaddafi's inner circle.[3]

Biography

Early life and career

Gaddaf al-Dam was born in Sirte on 25 February 1948.[4] He was one of the Free Officers who participated in the 1969 Libyan coup d'état that brought his cousin Muammar Gaddafi to power.[5] In 1984, he was described as a "shadowy but key figure" and the second most powerful man in Libya according to US intelligence.[6] He was accused of being involved in extrajudicial assassinations of Gaddafi's opponents in Europe as well as arms procurement.[4][6]

In March 1984, Gaddaf al-Dam was injured by a car bomb and may have become disabled. Foreign Minister Ali Treki dismissed the car bomb allegation and claimed that Gaddaf al-Dam had merely been injured in a car accident.[6]

Libyan Civil War and capture

Gaddaf al-Dam was placed under sanctions due to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 on 26 February 2011.[7] He was captured in the Battle of Sirte in October 2011.[5][8]

He was acquitted by a court in Misrata of "exploiting state armed forces for political aims" in September 2015 and all other charges against him were dropped.[8]

Release and death

Allegedly ill with cancer, Gaddaf al-Dam was stretched onto a private plane and flown to La Braq Airport en route to Egypt a fortnight after his release.[1]

In 2017, he played a role in securing the release of a number of Gaddafi-era figures and announced his support for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to represent Gaddafi loyalists in national reconciliation efforts.[5]

He died in Cairo, Egypt on 16 March 2023.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Cousins, Michel (28 September 2015). "Said Qaddaf Al-Dam flown to Labraq". LibyaHerald. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. ^ Cousins, Michel (15 September 2015). "Concern at rumours of Senussi and Baghdadi executions on Thursday". LibyaHerald. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Gaddafi's inner circle". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Sayyid Mohammed QADHAF AL-DAM". OpenSanctions.org. 25 February 1948. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "Gaddafi's Cousin "Sayyid Qaddaf al-Dam" Dies in Cairo | Sada Elbalad". see.news. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Woodward, Bob (29 April 1984). "Qaddafi's Authority Said to Be Weakening". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. ^ "SAYYID MOHAMMED QADHAF AL-DAM | United Nations Security Council". www.un.org. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Gaddafi's cousin acquitted | The Libya Observer". libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 23 June 2023.