Libya: Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, in the name of the father

Since the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan, international news outlets have taken on a desperate Back to the Future air. Libya is determined not to be outdone. Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, who had remained silent for nearly ten years, reappeared on the pages of the New York Times at the end of July.

Gone are the oval glasses typical of a technocrat, the impeccably cut suit and the three-day beard, typical Western features that he had previously adopted.

The second son of the “Guide” now sports the abundant hair of a venerable sheikh, a bicht (a traditional cloak worn in the Gulf) with golden borders and a turban tied like a pirate.

Seif has carefully compiled this outfit. In fact, he probably would not mind if his desert crossing, which lasted almost a decade, was perceived as a long spiritual retreat during which he devoted most of his time to meditating on his people’s misfortunes.

A free