The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday unsealed arrest warrants for six Libyan men allegedly connected to a brutal militia accused of multiple killings and other war crimes in the western town of Tarhunah.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said evidence indicates “Tarhunah residents have been subjected to crimes amounting to war crimes, including murder, outrages upon personal dignity, cruel treatment, torture, sexual violence, and rape.”
The warrants target Abdelrahim al-Kani, Makhlouf Douma, Nasser al-Lahsa, Mohammed Salheen, Abdelbari al-Shaqaqi, and Fathi al-Zinkal. Three are alleged leaders or senior members of the Al Kaniyat militia that controlled Tarhunah from at least 2015 to June 2020, while the others are Libyan security officials associated with the group.
“This is a significant step towards accountability in Libya,” said human rights lawyer Elham Saudi. “However, the challenge now lies in actually apprehending these suspects.”
The unsealing comes after mass graves were discovered in Tarhunah following the militia’s withdrawal in 2020. The town had been a focal point in the conflict between rival administrations in Libya’s east and west since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Khan emphasized the ICC’s reliance on member states for enforcement, stating, “We’re seeking to work closely with Libyan authorities so these individuals can face charges in a court of law.”
The ICC, which opened its Libya investigation in 2011 at the UN Security Council’s request, has previously issued warrants for figures including Gadhafi’s son, Saif Al-Islam Gadhafi.
