Amnesty Warns of Persistent Impunity, Unaddressed Crimes in Libya 15 Years After Revolution

Amnesty Warns of Persistent Impunity, Unaddressed Crimes in Libya 15 Years After Revolution
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Amnesty International has raised concerns over ongoing impunity in Libya, 15 years after the 2011 revolution that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, warning that serious human rights violations and international crimes continue to occur with little accountability. The organization stressed that the lack of effective justice mechanisms prevents victims and their families from obtaining redress.

In a statement, Amnesty noted that successive Libyan authorities have failed to dismantle militias and armed groups that perpetuate cycles of violence. Some individuals suspected of murder, torture, and enforced disappearances remain at large, while others have died under unclear circumstances, depriving victims of both truth and justice.

Although Libya’s Government of National Unity in Tripoli has formally accepted the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes committed between 2011 and 2027, Amnesty described the step as largely symbolic unless it is backed by concrete measures, including the surrender of individuals wanted under ICC arrest warrants.

The organization highlighted that the UN Security Council referred Libya’s situation to the ICC in February 2011, yet cooperation has remained limited. Only one of the 14 suspects subject to ICC warrants has been handed over. In December 2025, German authorities transferred a militia leader from the “Repression Apparatus” to the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes linked to violations at the Mitiga prison in Tripoli.

Amnesty also criticized ongoing resistance from authorities in eastern and western Libya to detain or hand over high-profile suspects accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some suspects, including Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and other militia leaders, died before facing trial, deepening the accountability crisis.

The report further noted that Libya’s judicial system suffers from weak institutional structures, lack of independence, and widespread violations of fair trial standards, including forced confessions and denial of adequate legal defense. The integration of former militia members into state institutions without vetting those implicated in serious abuses perpetuates a culture of impunity and undermines public trust.