Russian company Wagner Group, one of the suppliers of mercenaries to Libya, has worked with Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi, the most prominent son of the late Libyan leader, in an attempt to bring him to power, Bloomberg revealed last week. The US media revealed the connection between the Russian company, known close to Moscow and to Saif Al-Islam, after it saw notes taken by the Russians on their meetings with Qaddafi. In one document, Saif Al-Islam reportedly produced proofs of his father’s financial aid for election campaigns in some Western countries as a trump card. According to the notes of the last meeting seen by Bloomberg, Saif Al-Islam would give to Russians the list of commanders loyal to him in the next meeting. Russian polling showed that after years of civil war, nostalgia for the old regime was strong and that Saif Al-Islam was among Libya’s most popular politicians.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 23, 2020 13:41 UTC