Eastern Libyan Forces Accused of Crushing Dissent, Amnesty Int’l Reports

Eastern Libyan forces are cracking down on dissent, leading to a surge in arbitrary detentions and at least two deaths in custody, according to an Amnesty International report released Tuesday.

Since the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, Libya has remained divided, with power split between eastern and western regions.

Amnesty’s report states that the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), which controls the east, has empowered the Internal Security Agency (ISA) to imprison dissidents without oversight on a large scale.

“Since January 2024, heavily armed ISA agents have arrested dozens of people without warrants, including women and elderly men, from homes, streets, and other public places in areas controlled by the LAAF,” the report states.

The report details enforced disappearances lasting up to 10 months, noting that detainees “have been held in ISA-controlled facilities” without being brought before civilian courts.

Amnesty urged the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and the LAAF, which control eastern and southern Libya, to release all individuals arbitrarily detained for exercising their right to free speech.

Last week, amid concerns of a potential oil production crisis, Libya’s two main governing bodies—the eastern Benghazi-based House of Representatives and the western High State Council—agreed to jointly appoint a new chair for the central bank.

Experts warn that Libya may face further instability and possibly a revolution in the near future.