ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for 6 Libyan Militia Leaders Linked to War Crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has unsealed arrest warrants for six men allegedly connected to the notorious Al Kaniyat militia, responsible for a series of brutal killings and other crimes in Tarhunah, a strategic town in western Libya. The town gained international attention after mass graves were discovered in 2020, following the militia’s retreat.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan stated that his investigation had uncovered evidence suggesting that the residents of Tarhunah were subjected to acts of violence amounting to war crimes, including murder, torture, sexual violence, and rape. The men named in the warrants are Abdelrahim al-Kani, Makhlouf Douma, Nasser al-Lahsa, Mohammed Salheen, Abdelbari al-Shaqaqi, and Fathi al-Zinkal.
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Three of the suspects are believed to have been senior leaders of the Al Kaniyat militia, which controlled Tarhunah from 2015 until June 2020. The other three held positions within Libyan security forces at the time of the alleged crimes.
The warrants, originally issued earlier in 2023, were kept sealed until now, with Khan expressing confidence that unsealing them would facilitate the suspects’ arrests. The ICC does not have its own police force and relies on cooperation from member states to enforce these warrants. Khan emphasized the importance of working closely with Libyan authorities to ensure these individuals face justice.
Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, and the country remains divided between rival factions.
