ICC to focus next year on unrest and violence in Libya

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) is to make the continuing political unrest and violence in Libya a priority next year and will issue new arrest warrants soon against those suspected of committing war crimes.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said her commitment to make Libya a priority situation in 2017 was compelled by a number of factors, including the widespread violence, lawlessness and impunity in the country, a desire to provide justice for victims and further investigate other crimes, a UN press release stated.

The situation in Libya was referred to her office by the 15-member council.

“The referral by definition carries great responsibility to seek justice for the countless civilians who have been victims of the widespread crimes in Libya since February 15, 2011,” she said.

Regarding the case of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a former Libyan political figure and a son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, she said media reports suggested Gaddafi had been released from detention in Zintan on the basis of a grant of amnesty.

“I must report to you that reliable sources, including the Libyan Prosecutor-General’s office, have confirmed this information to be incorrect,” she said, adding that Gaddafi was still in Zintan and outside the custody and control of Libya’s Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord.

She called on the Libyan authorities to ensure they do everything possible to have Gaddafi transferred to the ICC without further delay.

As for the case of Abdullah Al-Senussi, former Libyan intelligence chief, she awaits the full report of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on the conduct of the domestic trial, and will study it carefully when it is available. Her office believes no new facts have arisen which negate the basis on which the Pre-Trial Chamber found Senussi’s case inadmissible before the court.

“I appeal to this council to recognise the collective responsibility of your referral and to support financial assistance by the UN for my office’s Libya investigations in 2017,” Bensouda said.