11 June 2025: UN highlights concerns over human rights violations in Tripoli
This week we look at the concerns of the UN and Attorney General over violations in Tripoli, as well as international engagement on Libya and the HoR reviewing the Libya-Turkey maritime MoU.
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UN highlights concerns at human rights violations in Tripoli; Attorney General issues arrest warrants over violations during Tripoli clashes
Incident: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has expressed shock and concern at human rights violations committed by armed groups in Tripoli, calling for accountability.
On 4 June, Türk said he was shocked by revelations of gross human rights violations uncovered at official and unofficial detention facilities run by the Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA) force in Tripoli, calling for the sites to be sealed, and for prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations by the Libyan authorities. Türk said the discoveries confirm the longstanding findings by the UN Support Mission in Libya and the former UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission, as well as from various witness accounts, regarding the existence of such sites and the extent of violations committed in connection with them, including torture and enforced disappearances.
Türk said, ‘Our worst held fears are being confirmed: dozens of bodies have been discovered at these sites, along with the discovery of suspected instruments of torture and abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings. These sites must be sealed and all potential evidence preserved in support of immediate accountability efforts. Those responsible for these atrocious acts must be brought to justice without delay, in accordance with international standards.’
He said he was troubled by reports that Libya’s forensic authorities mandated to exhume and identify human remains have yet to be granted access to excavate the sites, and urged the authorities to grant full and unimpeded access to all sites. He added he was distressed that horrifying images and video footage of the sites had been shared on social media, stressing that the dignity and privacy of the victims and the rights of their families must be respected. Türk called on the authorities to grant the United Nations access to the sites as part of its mandate to document human rights violations.
The Attorney General’s Office announced the outcomes of various investigations into incidents linked to the recent Tripoli clashes, with several arrest warrants issued.
On 9 June, the Attorney General’s Office said it is launching criminal cases against several members of the Central Security Forces, the SSA and security units affiliated with them. It said the investigations committee had investigated 121 incidents related to the actions of armed groups in the recent clashes, revealing evidence of murder, torture, kidnapping and arbitrary detention. This resulted in arrest warrants being issued for 141 individuals. They also identified five bodies found in storage refrigerators.
In a separate statement the same day, the Attorney General’s Office said it is investigating 360 incidents related to the clashes including theft and looting of individuals and institutions, injuries to individuals, and damages to property and infrastructure. This includes theft of funds of moveable property from the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), the Commercial Bank, and the Tripoli Port. Arrest warrants have been issued for ten personnel from the Operations Department of the Public Services Force, affiliated with Abdullah al-Trabulsi, while another 62 members of the force, and 34 members of other forces and agencies, are being sought.
The Attorney General also detained four suspects believed to be linked to a Libyan National Army (LNA) armed group on murder charges in Benghazi.
On 8 June, the Attorney General detained four men on suspicion of murdering the citizen Murad Mansour al-Madkhour al-Werfelli in Benghazi. On 5 June, armed men reportedly from the 20/20 Battalion - affiliated with the LNA’s Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade – allegedly executed al-Madkhour while he was defending his farm in the Sidi Faraj area from being forcibly seized by the group. Members of al-Madkour's family were reportedly subjected to intimidation for nearly a month due to their refusal to sell the farm to individuals affiliated with the battalion.
Comment: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that between 18-21 May, the UN Human Rights Office received information on the excavation of 10 charred bodies at the SSA headquarters in Abu Salim, along with the discovery of a total of 67 bodies in refrigerators at the Abu Salim and Al Khadra hospitals. Some of the remains are said to be in an advanced state of decomposition due to power outages in the hospital. The identities of the bodies were not immediately clear. A burial site was also reportedly discovered at the SSA-run Tripoli Zoo.
Turk noted that the Attorney General has formed two committees to investigate human rights violations and abuses by State security actors and associated groups during the recent clashes. He called on authorities to ensure that the killing of the SSA leader and violations and abuses by all actors, regardless of affiliation, were investigated promptly and thoroughly through independent and impartial processes. He noted reports that the protests following the clashes ‘were themselves met with unnecessary force, raising serious concerns with respect to the guarantee of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the need to protect civic space.’
On 3 June, UNSMIL warned that journalists in Libya had flagged in an online workshop the week before that they face frequent online harassment, which impedes their ability to fulfil their function as watchdogs against corruption, human rights abuses and other issues. Ninety-two per cent of participants said they had personally experienced online harassment. The most reported form of harassment was abusive comments or messages on social media. The harassment often escalated to death threats and, sometimes, actual physical attacks, they said. Female journalists reported particular trouble, saying they were harassed for nearly everything they published—regardless of topic.
The National Institution for Human Rights in Libya has announced it has sent the names of 53 detainees to Rada, as well as the Tripoli Correction and Rehabilitation Institution (Mitiga Prison), in order to verify their judicial records and begin the process of releasing them. This step follows the findings of its recent field inspection visit to Mitiga Prison and agreements reached with Rada regarding continued cooperation to address the conditions of detainees. The list includes detainees who have final release orders issued by the Attorney General and have no other pending cases, those who have served their sentences, and those acquitted by court rulings.
Significance: The human rights abuses and violations against citizens and detainees committed by armed groups in Tripoli and across the country are well known. However, prosecution of members of armed groups involved in such abuses is very rare. The recent disbanding of the SSA and discovery of mass graves, as well as PM Dabaiba’s purported campaign to disband all armed groups in the capital and hold them accountable for their actions, has triggered renewed focus on this issue. The GNU and Attorney General are trying to appease Tripoli residents and international actors by being seen to investigate and prosecute those responsible for abuses and for the damages and deaths caused by the clashes in the capital.
However, it is likely that it will be mainly be SSA members and other opponents of Dabaiba who will be charged. Where pro-Dabaiba forces are under investigation, such as the Zintani Public Services Force, it is likely that those charged will be lower ranking members of the armed group. Furthermore, even where warrants are issued, there is no guarantee that those named will be arrested or detained. The Attorney General has issued thousands of arrest warrants which are simply ignored. Ultimately, the AG is reliant on armed groups to implement the warrants and has little recourse if this is not carried out.
As for Rada, there is likely to be growing pressure on it around its treatment of detainees in Mitiga prison, hence its willingness to allow limited prison visits and to release detainees under certain circumstances. Overall, despite these window-dressing initiatives and pledges to address the abuses, powerful armed groups are likely to continue acting with impunity and carrying out abuses for the foreseeable future.
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Political process remains stalled even as UNSMIL engages with eastern actors and internationals turn their attention to Libya
Incident: The UN and other internationals have continued their engagements on Libya this week with the aim of mediating a more permanent truce in Tripoli and discussing next steps in the wider political process. On 3 June, Special Representative to the UN Secretary General (SRSG) Hanna Tetteh and Deputy SRSG Stephanie Koury met with Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi, discussing the Advisory Committee (AC) findings and possible future paths for Libya. In the following days, Koury met with several different stakeholders in Benghazi including with political parties, youth, women, civil society representatives, people with disabilities, elders and notables from Benghazi, Ajdabiya, al-Marj, Shahat, and al-Bayda, and finally with the head and members of Benghazi municipal council.
HoR evaluates recognition of maritime MoU with Turkey, sparking concerns from Greece and others
Incident: On 2 June, the House of Representatives (HoR) decided to form a technical committee to study a Libyan-Turkish MoU which was submitted to the HoR for ratification by Osama Hammad, PM of the eastern Government of National Stability (GNS). The HoR did not given any information about the subject of the MoU. It is assumed it is the 2019 MoU about the delimitation of the maritime jurisdiction areas between Libya and Turkey.
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Political process remains stalled even as UNSMIL engages with eastern actors and internationals turn their attention to Libya
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