The Libyan Ministry of Justice has announced that it has corresponded with the Lebanese government over the detainment of Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of the former dictator of Libya Muammar Gaddafi.
Hannibal Gaddafi who has been in custody in Lebanon for years, was lured to the Lebanese Syrian border and kidnapped in 2015, during his residence in Syria after he was granted political asylum by the Assad regime. Militants affiliated with the Lebanese political Amal movement held him hostage on the background of the movement’s decades-long dispute with Muammar Gaddafi over the disappearance of the group’s founder Musa Alsadr during his visit to Libya back in 1978. Hannibal Gaddafi was later handed over to Lebanese authorities in Beirut where he has been in prison since.
An appeal has been made to Lebanon for cooperation in order to solve the case of Hannibal Gaddafi according to the Ministry of Justice in the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU). However, the ministry has clarified that the Lebanese government is yet to acknowledge this communication. In a statement issued by the ministry, it mentions that “the GNU is keen to lift grievances from all Libyans, regardless of their affiliation, given that protecting their lives and freedom is an inherent right”. It also clarifies that cooperation with the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs was initiated to follow up on the matter and take necessary measures.
Hannibal Gaddafi had declared previously in a televised interview while he was detained, that there is a demand of two billion dollars in exchange for his release, and that the requested amount represented the Libyan funds withheld by Lebanese banks. Last month it was announced that he has started a hunger strike which has led to his health condition seriously deteriorating, according to his lawyers.
