Amnesty International has issued a call to the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), urging them to disclose information regarding the fate and whereabouts of 19 individuals, including Libya’s former Minister of Defense, Al-Mahdi al-Barghathi. These individuals were reportedly abducted in Benghazi exactly a year ago. The appeal highlights the violation of human rights and international law by non-state actors exerting governmental control.
Al-Mahdi al-Barghathi served as Libya’s Defense Minister from 2016 to 2018, a tenure during which he vocally criticized the LAAF’s assault on Tripoli over the 2019-2020 period. On returning to Benghazi, al-Barghathi, along with 38 of his relatives and supporters, was apprehended by affiliates of the LAAF. While some of them have since been released, six have reportedly died, including al-Barghathi’s son. The situation of the remaining 19 individuals is yet to be clarified, with fears that they may have been subjected to extrajudicial killings. There is even speculation that al-Barghathi himself might have perished, although no body has been returned to his family, who have called for DNA verification and disclosure of his burial site. Amnesty’s full statement can be read here.
This situation falls under the purview of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which mandates that state parties investigate and prosecute acts of enforced disappearance. Enforced disappearance is defined as the detention or abduction of individuals by state authorities or supported groups, followed by a denial of the whereabouts or fate of those individuals. The LAAF, led by Khalifa Haftar, despite being a non-state power, claims control over Libya’s state functions and economic resources. This status necessitates adherence to international humanitarian and human rights standards, as discussed in detail by Chatham House.
The international community continues to push for accountability in Libya amidst concerns of human rights violations and political instability. For further coverage of this issue, see the original reporting by JURIST.