International

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s late longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi and once widely viewed as his political heir, has been killed in the northwestern city of Zintan. He was 53. The death was confirmed on Tuesday by his adviser, Abdallah Othman Abdurrahim, through a social media post, though official authorities initially released no details. Family members later said Saif al-Islam was killed inside his residence by unidentified gunmen, an incident that has drawn renewed attention to Libya’s prolonged political instability. Speaking to Libyan broadcaster al-Ahrar, his cousin, Hamid Gaddafi, said the family had been informed that Saif al-Islam had “fallen as a martyr.” Abdurrahim further disclosed that four armed men stormed his home after disabling surveillance cameras and shot him before fleeing the scene. The killing reportedly occurred in Zintan, a mountainous city where Saif al-Islam had been held by local militias following the 2011 uprising that led to the overthrow of his father. Read Also: 2025 in Memoriam: Nigerians and Global Icons Who Left a Lasting Legacy Saif al-Islam was captured in southern Libya in November 2011 and later became the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over allegations linked to the violent suppression of protests. In 2015, a Libyan court sentenced him to death in a controversial trial, but he was later released under an amnesty law. His whereabouts remained largely unclear for several years. In 2021, he re-emerged in the public eye after registering as a presidential candidate in Libya’s long-delayed elections, which were eventually postponed indefinitely due to legal and political disputes. Analysts say his death could have far-reaching implications. Libya expert Emadeddin Badi described Saif al-Islam as a deeply polarising figure whose possible return to power had become a major point of contention in the stalled electoral process. His killing, Badi noted, could reshape political alignments ahead of any future elections. Educated in Libya and abroad, Saif al-Islam was long portrayed as a reform-minded figure and was widely seen as his father’s preferred successor before the Arab Spring. Although he never held formal public office, he was often described as a de facto power broker in the years preceding the 2011 revolt. Libya has remained mired in instability since the fall of the Gaddafi regime, with the country divided between a UN-backed government in Tripoli and rival authorities in the east aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar.

United States President Donald Trump has for the first time publicly acknowledged that Muslims are also victims of killings in Nigeria, slightly revising earlier statements that emphasized attacks against Christians. In an interview with The New York Times this week, Trump spoke about the U.S. military strike carried out on Christmas Day against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria. He suggested that while he would prefer the action to remain a one-time strike, further military interventions could follow if attacks continue. “I’d love to make it a one‑time strike … but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many‑time strike,” he said. When pressed on reports from his Africa adviser indicating that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have also targeted Muslims, Trump stated: “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria.” The Nigerian government has consistently refuted claims that any single religious group is being deliberately targeted, insisting that both Christians and Muslims have been affected by the violence. Authorities say attacks, kidnappings, and banditry in various regions of the country are consequences of broader security challenges and criminal activity rather than systematic persecution. Read Also: Explosion Hits Mosque During Maghrib Prayer in Maiduguri Gunmen Kill Seven in Fresh Attack on Katsina Village Jos Muslims Say Over 4,700 Members Killed Since 2001 Crises Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with over 230 million people, is almost evenly divided between Christians, who are mainly in the south, and Muslims, concentrated in the north. The ongoing security crisis, driven by extremist insurgencies and other armed groups, continues to cause widespread human suffering across religious and ethnic lines. U.S. Involvement and International Response Trump’s remarks come amid heightened debate over the role of the U.S. in Nigeria’s security situation. This includes discussions over possible additional strikes and previous measures, such as redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern under U.S. law due to alleged failures to protect religious communities. The statements have reignited conversations about the nature of the violence in Nigeria and the international community’s response.

Venezuela and the United States have reached an agreement allowing Caracas to export crude oil worth up to $2 billion to the U.S., marking a major shift in bilateral relations amid Venezuela’s worsening political and economic crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the deal, describing it as a flagship negotiation that would redirect Venezuelan oil supplies away from China while easing production pressures caused by export restrictions and storage shortages. According to Trump, the agreement reflects Venezuela’s compliance with U.S. demands to open its oil sector to American companies. He added that between 30 million and 50 million barrels of what he termed “sanctioned oil” would be turned over to the United States, sold at market prices, with proceeds managed by the U.S. government. The development follows months of heightened pressure by Washington on Caracas and signals a recalibration of U.S.–Venezuela relations. Trump has previously warned of military intervention if Venezuela failed to grant U.S. firms access to its oil industry. Venezuela has been unable to export millions of barrels of crude currently held in tankers and storage facilities following a U.S. blockade imposed in mid-December. The restrictions intensified pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro, whose recent capture by U.S. forces has been denounced by Venezuelan officials as a kidnapping and an attempt to seize control of the country’s oil resources. Read Also: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Strengthen Unity with Launch of AES Television DICON–D7G Begins Local Assembly of DG-103 Rifles, Eyes African Export Market Gombe Tightens Security, Shuts Down Scrap Metal Business Trump said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright would oversee the execution of the agreement, with oil taken directly from tankers and shipped to U.S. ports. Sources familiar with the talks revealed that some cargoes originally destined for China would now be redirected to the United States, potentially ending Beijing’s position as Venezuela’s largest crude buyer. Following the announcement, U.S. crude prices fell by more than 1.5 percent amid expectations of increased oil supply. Currently, Chevron remains the only company exporting Venezuelan crude to the U.S. under a special authorization, shipping between 100,000 and 150,000 barrels per day despite the blockade. It remains unclear whether Venezuela will gain direct access to sales proceeds, as U.S. sanctions continue to exclude state oil firm PDVSA from the global financial system. Market estimates place the deal’s value at up to $1.9 billion, with Venezuela’s flagship Merey crude trading at a steep discount to Brent prices. Discussions between U.S. and Venezuelan officials reportedly include auction-based sales, new U.S. licenses for PDVSA partners, and the possible future use of Venezuelan oil in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum welcomed the development, saying increased Venezuelan heavy crude supplies would benefit U.S. jobs, fuel prices, and Venezuela’s economy. Industry sources warn, however, that without sustained export routes, Venezuela may face further production cuts due to storage constraints.