The suspects are all linked to the

Kaniyat militia

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has released six originally sealed arrest warrants against individuals accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict in Libya. The suspects are:

  • Abdurahem Khalefa Abdurahem Elshgagi
  • Makhlouf Makhlouf Arhoumah Doumah
  • Nasser Muhammad Muftah Daou
  • Mohamed Mohamed Al Salheen Psalms
  • Abdelbari Ayyad Ramadan Al Shaqaqi
  • Fathi Faraj Mohamed Salim Al Zinkal

They are all linked to the Kaniyat militia, believed to be responsible for massacres in the town of Tarhuna, about 65 kilometres southeast of Tripoli.

The prosecutor Karim khan stressed the importance of publishing the warrants to ensure transparency and promote international cooperation in the investigation.

The Kaniyat militia, led by the Al Kani family, is accused of hundreds of executions and enforced disappearances in Tarhuna. Originally allied with the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, the militia came under the control of the Libyan National Army (LNA) of General Khalifa Haftar.

After the militia withdrew from Tarhuna in 2020, following the entry of GNA forces, dozens of mass graves containing over 200 bodies of civilians, including women and children, were discovered.

Abdurahem Khalefa Abdurahem Elshgagi, born on 22 February 1981 in Tarhuna, is considered one of the main perpetrators of the atrocities committed by the Kaniyat militia. The charges against him include murder, torture and sexual violence.

According to the indictment, Elshgagi directly participated in many of these actions or ordered their execution, helping to spread terror among the local population.

Makhlouf Makhlouf Arhoumah Doumah, known as Makhlouf Douma, born in 1988 also in Tarhuna, is accused of similar crimes. He is also alleged to have played a central role in the violence perpetrated by the Kaniyat, providing direct or indirect support to torture and murder operations against civilians. His responsibilities also include actions aimed at suppressing any resistance in the region.

Nasser Muhammad Muftah Daou, known as Nasser Al Lahsa, born in 1973, is described as a leading figure within the militias involved in war crimes. His activities are closely linked to murder and torture operations, for which he is said to have facilitated or directly participated in executions.

Mohamed Mohamed Al Salheen Salmi, known as Mohamed Salheen, is accused of participating in numerous crimes against the civilian population. He, like his accomplices, is also accused of murder and sexual violence, with a key role in the Kaniyat operations that terrorized the community of Tarhuna.

Abdelbari Ayyad Ramadan Al Shaqaqi, born in 1983, is accused of murder, torture and sexual violence. Abdelbari is said to have facilitated or directly participated in many of the violent incidents that have characterized the conflict, demonstrating particular brutality in his actions.

Finally, Fathi Faraj Mohamed Salim Al Zinkal, born in 1977, is accused of war crimes, including murder and torture. His involvement extends to the military operations conducted by Kaniyat, in collaboration with the Libyan National Army, during the attack on Tripoli in 2019, which saw the deaths of numerous civilians.

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