Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – Libyan rebel officer, Colonel Saleh Mansour al-Obeidi, who defected from the Gaddafi regime to join the Libyan rebels based in Benghazi, informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has resorted to using “magic” in an attempt to confront the rebels and prolong his reign.
Colonel al-Obeidi told Asharq Al-Awsat that Gaddafi is utilizing “African magicians” from Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Gambia, and Morocco to help him overcome the rebels. The rebel Colonel claimed that “African magicians” were even being deployed by Gaddafi on the battlefield to provide his soldiers with “magical talismans” that ensure loyalty to the Libyan leader, in an attempt to counteract the wide-spread defection from his military forces. Calling into question the Libyan leader’s psychological state, al-Obeidi said that Gaddafi considered “magic” to be like a secondary intelligence apparatus, allowing him to spy on Libyan officials and leaders.
Libyan rebel Colonel Saleh al-Obeidi, who claims to be among the first military figures to have defected from the Gaddafi regime, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “one of Gaddafi’s closest aides told me that he was utilizing a Gambian witch who was using magical talisman’s and voodoo to prolong his life, and ensure that he is not injured by any rebel or NATO attack.” He added that “this witch has provided Gaddafi with a magical talisman which he wears on his cloak so that he is not hit by bullets or hurt in an explosion…and this is why we always see him wearing this cloak. Even when it is extremely hot, he never takes it off!”
Colonel al-Obeidi added that “if we look at pictures of Gaddafi, we can see that he wears a silver ring, and this ring was made of hyena bone, which a significant animal to magicians. This ring was given to Gaddafi by a Mauritanian magician to inspire fear in anybody that deals or meets with him. Somebody close to me said that when he went to meet Gaddafi…he felt as if he had seen a demon. He told me that he began to recite the Quran under his breath [to ward off evil], when Gaddafi told him ‘why are you reciting the Quran as if you are entreating with a demon?’ and he [Gaddafi] kicked him out.”
Al-Obeidi claimed that “African witches” are not only kept close to Gaddafi to protect him, but are also being sent out to the battlefield to exert “magical” influence upon Gaddafi’s own soldiers, as well as to limit the progress of the rebels.
Al-Obeidi also claimed that some pro-Gaddafi fighters captured by the rebels had been magically enchanted, and could only say “God…Muammar…Libya” and nothing more. He added “we were perplexed by what was happening, but after we left them for two days and brought sheikhs to lift the magic, they would say ‘where am I?’ and ‘how did I get here?’ as if they were not aware of what they were doing, and this is because they were under the influence of Gaddafi’s magicians.”
Al-Obeidi also told Asharq Al-Awsat that Gaddafi is using magic to extend his own life, as well as to strengthen his grip on power. He added that Gaddafi is always accompanied by a number of “magicians” who enter the room before him, sprinkling water and muttering magical incantations, to cleanse the room prior to his arrival, stressing that such behavior “is not in line with Islamic Sharia law.”