Amnesty International Demands Accountability for Disappeared Libyans
Amnesty International has issued a strong call for transparency regarding the fate of 19 individuals, including former Defense Minister Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi, who were forcibly disappeared by forces loyal to retired General Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi, Libya. This appeal coincides with the first anniversary of their disappearance, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in the region. The organization emphasized that these individuals were kidnapped by armed groups affiliated with Haftar's forces, leaving their families in a state of anguish and uncertainty about their loved ones' survival.
According to Amnesty, the plight of Al-Barghathi and his supporters underscores the impunity that armed groups enjoy in Libya, as they operate with little to no accountability. The families have been enduring a year filled with grief and anxiety, not knowing if their relatives are alive or dead. The organization urged both the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and Haftar's forces to conduct thorough and independent investigations into these enforced disappearances, as well as other crimes committed in the region.
Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi, who had previously served as the defense minister in the rival Government of National Accord, returned to Benghazi on October 6, 2023, amid reconciliation efforts. However, shortly after his return, armed groups raided his family home, resulting in violent clashes that left at least 15 dead. In a chilling escalation, Haftar's forces also took 36 women and 13 children from Al-Barghathi's family hostage, although they were later released. The fate of Al-Barghathi and at least 18 others remains unknown, raising fears of possible executions following their capture.
