Gaddafi's Cousin: "He Gave Room for Disagreement — But Treason Was a Red Line"

A Voice From Gaddafi's Inner Circle Speaks

In a revealing interview published on June 10, 2026, Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam — cousin and former aide to the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi — offered a nuanced portrait of the man who ruled Libya for over four decades. Speaking to Egypt's Shorouk News, Gaddaf al-Dam described a leader who tolerated internal disagreement but drew a firm line at what he considered betrayal of the nation.

"Muammar Gaddafi gave a margin to those who worked with him," Gaddaf al-Dam stated. "But there is a difference between political disagreement and treason. Forging alliances with foreign powers against your own country — that is where the line is drawn." The remarks shed light on the internal dynamics of one of the Arab world's most controversial regimes, more than 14 years after Gaddafi's fall in the 2011 uprising.

The Man Behind the Message

Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam, born in 1952, served as Libya's Special Envoy to Egypt and was a key member of Gaddafi's inner circle for decades. A graduate of the Libyan Military Academy in the early 1970s, he rose through the ranks of the Republican Guard before transitioning into diplomacy. Since leaving Libya, he has lived in Cairo, giving numerous interviews reflecting on the regime's legacy amid Libya's ongoing political fragmentation.

Key Claims From the Interview

  • Room for internal debate: Gaddaf al-Dam asserted that Gaddafi allowed those around him to express disagreement on policy matters, creating a "margin" for open discussion within the regime's inner workings.
  • The treason red line: The former envoy emphasized that seeking foreign intervention against Libya — particularly aligning with external powers to overthrow the government — was viewed by Gaddafi as an unforgivable act of betrayal.
  • Defending Gaddafi's legacy: In recent months, Gaddaf al-Dam has repeatedly defended aspects of his cousin's rule, including Libya's open borders policy for Arab citizens and Gaddafi's pan-African initiatives.
  • Saif al-Islam's popularity: In a February 2026 interview, he claimed Saif al-Islam Gaddafi "enjoyed majority support" when he presented himself as a reformist figure within the regime.
  • No state secrets: Gaddaf al-Dam has previously stated that "there were no secrets in Gaddafi's era," suggesting a regime that operated with internal transparency despite its authoritarian reputation.

A Divided Legacy

Gaddaf al-Dam's remarks are unlikely to settle the fierce debate over Gaddafi's 42-year rule. For many Libyans, the era is remembered for repression, disappearances, and the brutal crushing of dissent. The 2011 uprising was met with violent force — a response that ultimately led to NATO intervention and Gaddafi's death in Sirte on October 20, 2011.

Yet for others — particularly in southern Libya and among diaspora communities — Gaddafi's rule is associated with relative stability, infrastructure development, and a high standard of living. His recent comments appear aimed at this audience, offering a counter-narrative to the dominant post-revolution discourse.

Why This Matters for Libya Today

The interview arrives at a critical moment. Libya remains divided between rival governments in Tripoli and Benghazi, with national unity elections repeatedly postponed. Public nostalgia for the pre-2011 era has grown amid years of conflict, economic collapse, and institutional failure. Gaddaf al-Dam's Cairo apartment has been described as a meeting point for former regime figures exploring a potential political return — whether his words represent genuine reflection or strategic positioning.

The Road Ahead

As Libya searches for stability, voices like Gaddaf al-Dam's remind us that the past is never simple. The challenge for Libyans is not to choose between wholesale condemnation or rehabilitation of the Gaddafi era, but to extract honest lessons about governance, accountability, and the dangers of both authoritarianism and chaos.

— LibyaPress / Politics Desk