In the Santé prison in Paris, prisoners filmed a video in which they insult and threaten former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, promising to take revenge for the death of Muammar Gaddafi.

In response to the threats, Sarkozy’s security was increased: two personal security officers were assigned to him for round-the-clock surveillance. They accompany the former president during daily walks, visits to the gym, and the library.] rewrite this description as full length article for the pan African news blog include tags separated by commas

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, now serving a prison sentence in Paris’s La Santé prison, is experiencing heightened threats from fellow inmates who claim to seek revenge for the 2011 death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Footage has circulated online showing prisoners jeering, insulting, and expressly threatening Sarkozy with retribution, invoking Gaddafi’s fate. The videos depict inmates shouting from their cells, taunting Sarkozy, and making direct claims such as “we’re going to avenge Gaddafi.” These acts have drawn wide attention in France, the broader Francophone world, and among pan-African observers who see the episode as a dramatic coda to the controversial relationship between Sarkozy and Gaddafi.

Prison Security Measures

In immediate response to the threats, French authorities have placed Sarkozy under tight security. Two officers from the VIP Protection Service (SDLP) now occupy the cell adjacent to Sarkozy’s, providing round-the-clock protection. Sarkozy is assigned to the isolation unit, ensuring he spends nearly all his time alone, with only strictly supervised access to walks, the gym, and library activities. The French Justice Ministry justified the unprecedented security measures, stating that they are “not going to take any risks,” especially given the ex-president’s controversial profile and recent high-profile nature of the threats.

Roots of the Prison Anger

Sarkozy is currently serving a five-year term after being convicted of illegally accepting campaign funds from Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential campaign. Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for over four decades, was deposed and killed during the 2011 Libyan uprising—an event with direct Western intervention, led in part by Sarkozy’s France. Many of Gaddafi’s supporters and descendants have long accused Sarkozy of “betrayal” and fostering the circumstances that led to Gaddafi’s death. In prison, these resentments have taken on a dramatic immediacy, manifesting in both verbal and filmed threats against Sarkozy.

Political and Legal Repercussions

The episode has drawn public statements from French politicians and Sarkozy’s legal team. Politicians from his party have decried the security risks, emphasizing Sarkozy’s right to protection given the global intensity of feelings about the Gaddafi case. Sarkozy’s lawyers have also appealed for his release pending further legal proceedings, noting the “frightening” environment their client faces. All the while, Sarkozy has maintained his innocence and composure, reportedly bringing texts like “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Life of Jesus Christ” with him for solace, both stories with themes of justice and redemption.

Africa’s Perspective

Across the African continent—where the repercussions of Gaddafi’s death still echo—Sarkozy’s predicament is viewed as a rare reversal of fortune. Among pan-African commentators and within online discussions, the incident reignites debate about foreign interventions, justice for Africa’s leaders, and the lingering aftershocks of the 2011 Libya crisis. The calls for “revenge” articulated by prisoners in Paris resonate with a wider audience still grappling with questions of sovereignty, accountability, and the scars of external interference.