Press Statement on the discovery of several mass graves and unidentified bodies in the locality of Abu Salim, Tripoli, State of Libya
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) is closely monitoring the general human rights situation in Tripoli, the capital of the State of Libya, particularly following the recent escalation of violence and intense fighting in densely populated civilian areas.
The commission is particularly concerned by the numerous reports of the discovery of several mass graves in different parts of the Abu Salim locality in Tripoli, which was under the control of the Al-kikli militia. The Libyan authorities also reported the discovery of several unidentified bodies in the morgues of the Alkhdra hospital (9 bodies) and the Alhawadith hospital (more than 50 bodies). The General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons (created in 2018), for its part, announced that it had received information about the presence of mass graves in the Abu Salim zoological park.
The African Commission recalls that enforced disappearances and extra-judicial, arbitrary and summary executions constitute violations of numerous articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, in particular article 4, which enshrines the right to life and prohibits its arbitrary deprivation, article 5, which prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and article 6, which guarantees the right to liberty and security of person. The Commission also recalls that States Parties have an obligation to protect everyone within their jurisdiction from such acts committed by State or non-State actors in all circumstances, as set out in its General Comment No. 3 on ‘The right to life’ (2015), and its ‘Guidelines for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance’ (2022).
The African Commission calls on the Libyan authorities to conduct prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations in order to identify the victims, apportion responsibility and ensure that the perpetrators of the violations are held accountable before the competent courts.
Banjul, 29 May 2025.
Honourable Commissioner Selma SASSI-SAFER
Commissioner in charge of the human rights situation in the State of Libya
Honourable Commissioner Idrissa SOW
Chairman of the Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions and Enforced Disappearances in Africa.
