TRIPOLI, Libya — The United Nations on Wednesday expressed alarm over the discovery of dozens of bodies at locations previously controlled by a powerful militia group in Tripoli, calling for immediate international action and accountability over suspected human rights abuses.
According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, the sites had been operated by the Stabilisation Support Apparatus (SSA), a militia formerly led by Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, a prominent commander killed during clashes in the Libyan capital last month.
“We are shocked by the reports and our worst fears are being confirmed,” Turk said in a statement. “Dozens of bodies have been uncovered at these facilities, alongside suspected instruments of torture, signs of abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings.”
At least 10 charred bodies were reportedly found inside the SSA’s base in the Abu Salim district, a southern Tripoli stronghold of the militia. An additional 67 corpses were discovered in hospital refrigerators at two local facilities — Abu Salim and Al Khadra — where detainees were believed to have been held. Investigators were also informed of a possible burial site located at the Tripoli Zoo, an area that had been under SSA control.
The identities of the victims remain unknown, and the UN has called for the immediate sealing of all affected sites to preserve potential forensic evidence. Turk urged Libyan authorities to grant international investigators access to the locations and ensure transparency in any ongoing inquiries.
Al-Kikli, long regarded as one of Tripoli’s most influential militia leaders, had commanded the SSA, a group officially linked to Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU). His killing during violent clashes in May reignited power struggles among rival armed factions, plunging parts of the capital into chaos.
The fighting that followed his death led to multiple civilian casualties, forced school closures, and the imposition of a citywide curfew. The UN Support Mission in Libya called on all factions to cease hostilities and protect civilians, warning of further destabilization in the already fractured nation.
Tripoli remains dominated by a patchwork of armed groups operating with minimal accountability in the absence of a unified national military force. Despite formal affiliations with the GNU, many militias function autonomously and have been implicated in a range of abuses, including unlawful detention, torture, and extrajudicial executions.
The SSA has previously faced accusations of serious human rights violations, and the latest discoveries appear to corroborate long-standing concerns about the conditions of its detention centers and its treatment of prisoners.
Turk emphasized the urgency of implementing a disarmament and accountability mechanism to dismantle Libya’s impunity culture and ensure justice for victims.
“This is not just about identifying those responsible,” he said. “It’s about restoring dignity to the victims and rebuilding trust in institutions that are meant to protect, not harm.”
As investigations continue, the UN reiterated its commitment to supporting a sustainable political process in Libya and urged local and international stakeholders to work toward a lasting ceasefire and institutional reform.
Libya has remained in political limbo since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, with rival governments and militias vying for power. The GNU, based in Tripoli, was established in 2021 under a UN-led peace process, but efforts to unify the country’s institutions have stalled amid ongoing violence and political gridlock.
