Libya: Urgent call to reveal fate of 19 men forcibly disappeared one year ago

A year after 19 men were forcibly disappeared in Libya, their fate and whereabouts remains unknown, raising serious concerns about ongoing human rights abuses and impunity in the war-torn nation. Families of the disappeared, alongside human rights organisations, are urgently calling on Libyan authorities to reveal the status of their loved ones, hold those responsible accountable and take immediate steps to address enforced disappearances across the country.

The men, who were reportedly abducted by armed groups, were taken from different parts of the country, including Tripoli, Benghazi and other regions, during various operations allegedly carried out by government-aligned factions and militias.

Families and witnesses claim the disappearances were politically motivated, tied to ongoing clashes and power struggles among Libya’s various armed groups and political factions. Despite pleas to local authorities and international human rights bodies, no credible investigations have been launched into these cases.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have expressed concern over the rise in enforced disappearances across Libya in recent years, particularly since the outbreak of renewed conflict in 2019. The UN Human Rights Council has also condemned the practice as a violation of international law, urging Libya to adhere to its obligations under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Libya’s fragile political landscape has enabled armed groups to operate with near-total impunity, often detaining individuals without charge and holding them in secret locations without access to legal counsel or contact with their families. Families of the disappeared are left in anguish, unable to confirm whether their loved ones are alive or dead.

“The practice of enforced disappearance is not only a crime against the individual but also a source of immense suffering for families who are left in a state of perpetual uncertainty,” said a representative from the Libyan Human Rights Watch. “The Libyan authorities must take swift action to investigate these disappearances, bring perpetrators to justice and provide answers to the families.”

The cases of these 19 men highlight a larger pattern of human rights abuses that have plagued Libya since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country has since descended into chaos, with rival factions and militias vying for control, leaving civilians to bear the brunt of the violence and lawlessness.

Libyan authorities have, thus far, failed to take substantial action to address the issue, despite repeated calls for accountability and transparency. The lack of a unified national government and the ongoing power struggle between the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli and the eastern-based authorities has further complicated the process of justice for the disappeared and their families.

Advocates urge the international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, to put pressure on Libyan authorities to comply with international human rights standards, ensuring the release of any individuals unlawfully detained and the provision of information regarding those who remain missing.

The international community continues to keep a watchful eye on Libya, demanding immediate steps to locate the 19 forcibly disappeared men, guarantee their safety and protect human rights in a country still in search of stability and justice.

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