Safia Farkash Gaddafi is a Libyan businesswoman best known as the widow of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Born in 1952 in the city of Al Bayda in eastern Libya, Safia Farkash trained as a nurse and worked in the medical field before her marriage. She married Muammar Gaddafi in 1970, shortly after his rise to power, and went on to become one of the most influential women in Libya during his four-decade rule. Although she maintained a relatively low public profile compared to other figures in the regime, Safia Farkash was widely regarded as a powerful behind-the-scenes figure.
She was often described as a trusted confidante of her husband and played a role in family, charitable, and business affairs. Over the years, she became associated with significant wealth and business interests, both within Libya and abroad, particularly through investments linked to the Gaddafi family. Safia Farkash was also involved in social and humanitarian initiatives, including support for healthcare and charitable causes, reflecting her background in nursing. During the 2011 Libyan uprising and subsequent civil war, she fled the country with several of her children.
