As of March 20, 2026, the legacy of Muammar Gaddafi remains a focal point of Libyan instability following the recent assassination of his son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. Saif al-Islam, who was once considered a potential successor and served as a de facto prime minister under his father, was killed by masked men at his home in Zintan one month ago. His death, which drew thousands of mourners to his funeral in Bani Walid, has been described by analysts as the removal of a symbolic alternative to Libya’s entrenched political deadlock and a reminder of the ongoing violence within the country. His assassination is widely perceived as a move by the current Libyan elite to eliminate a significant political threat.