Mass graves discovered in Libya
Dozens of bodies have been discovered in detention centers in Libya, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reported on Wednesday, calling for an independent investigation into the “grim findings” and abuses at the facilities. Violence, political disorder and lawlessness has blighted the North African country since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi more than a decade ago.
The graves were found in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, according to the OHCHR, at “official and unofficial” sites operated by the Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA), an armed group mandated to bolster government security.
“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,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.
The SSA, a powerful militia formally aligned to Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU), has long faced allegations of “torture and enforced disappearances.”
The findings followed deadly clashes in Tripoli triggered by the assassination of SSA leader Abdelghani al-Kikli – known locally as Ghaniwa – on May 12. He was reportedly shot dead in southern Tripoli, sparking violent confrontations between rival armed factions that left several civilians dead and damaged critical infrastructure, including hospitals.
At least 77 bodies were discovered in Tripoli between May 18 and 21, including ten charred corpses found at the SSA headquarters in Abu Salim and 67 others stored in hospital refrigerators, the UN agency said in a press release. Another burial site was reportedly discovered at the SSA-run Tripoli Zoo.
“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,” Turk stated.
Libya remains deeply fractured, divided between the UN-recognized GNU based in Tripoli and the rival Government of National Stability in the eastern city of Benghazi. Sporadic violence, militia infighting, and stalled political processes have left the country in a prolonged state of instability.
The discovery of mass graves in Libya is not uncommon. In February, the authorities reported recovering the bodies of at least 28 people – believed to be migrants – from a mass grave in Kufra, a city around 1,712 kilometers (1,064 miles) southeast of Tripoli. On Wednesday, the UN said two graves were uncovered that month in Jakharrah and Kufra, containing 10 and 93 bodies, respectively.
The oil-rich country, a destination for migrants from neighboring African nations, has become a major transit hub for human trafficking and migration to Europe via the Mediterranean since the overthrow and assassination of Gaddafi in 2011.
