Libyan army chief released as ICC issues second warrant for summary killings
A Libyan commander accused of ordering summary executions was released from military enforced house arrest on Thursday, the day the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a second arrest warrant for him.
Mahmoud Warfalli, an officer in the Libyan National Army (LNA), is accused of putting dozens of alleged extremist militants to death over the course of 18 months. The ICC issued a warrant against him in August last year in connection with seven incidents and 33 deaths.
The LNA has been accused of failing to act on the arrest warrant and curb Mr Warfalli’s behaviour.
Yet it is now understood that Mr Warfalli had been held under house arrest at the LNA’s Rajma base, about 30 kilometres from its main stronghold of Benghazi.
A relative told The National that Mr Warfalli was released on Thursday following talks with the LNA command, dispelling rumours that he had escaped detention.
Mr Warfalli has been in eight videos where he appears to either order or carry out the killing of captives.
One appears to show him killing 10 prisoners in front of the Biyat Al Radwan mosque in Benghazi on January 24, a day after a car bomb outside the mosque claimed the lives of dozens of people.
Mr Warfalli was a frequent visitor to the mosque.
To some he is a hero who led the fight against terrorism in eastern Libya. His supporters said the men he is accused of killing were ISIS or Al Qaeda and their deaths were justified.
Mr Warfalli’s opponents accuse him of using the same tactics as the extremists he seeks to drive from Libya. In the videos, he often quotes the Quran as justification for his actions.
As commander in the LNA’s special forces, he is regarded as one of its strongest fighters and has widespread support within the division.
He is also a member of Libya’s largest tribe, the Warfalla, and, as such, has a great well of support from that, too.