The 7 June 2011 could have been carved in stone as the day Gaddafi read his last speech on Libyan television. That day NATO intensified aerial bombardments in the northern African country with more than 20 strikes by low-flying jets. One of the heaviest daytime raids since the enforcement of a “No-fly Zone” in March.
“I am now speaking as planes and bombs fall around me, but my soul is in God’s hands” Gaddafi said. “We have one option; our country. We will remain in it until the end. Dead, alive, victorious, it doesn’t matter.”
“We will not surrender, we will not give up,” Gaddafi vowed. Completely removed from reality and crippled militarily, he refused to budge.
Nonetheless, he was forced to evoke the possibility of his own death in public for the first time since the beginning of hostilities, in order to make his supposed suicide attempt plausible.
According to him, he would welcome his death because “martyrdom is a million times better”.
“Gaddafi’s days are numbered,” said former Libyan Justice Minister, Mustafa Mohammed Abd al-Jalil. “He will do what Hitler did — he will take his own life.” –
Understand Africa's tomorrow... today
We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on. With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need.
