The United Nations has expressed deep alarm after the recent discovery of multiple bodies in parts of Tripoli, Libya, previously controlled by the powerful militia known as the Stabilisation Support Apparatus (SSA). The group’s leader, Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, was killed in violent clashes in May.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a statement on Wednesday describing the findings as “deeply disturbing,” pointing to serious human rights abuses at detention centers managed by the SSA, formerly led by al-Kikli.
“Our fears are materializing,” Türk said. “Dozens of bodies have been uncovered, along with possible torture devices and indications of extrajudicial killings.”
According to reports, ten burned corpses were located at the SSA’s base in the Abu Salim district. An additional 67 bodies were discovered in morgues at two hospitals, Abu Salim and Al Khadra. Authorities have also received reports of a potential mass grave inside Tripoli Zoo, another area previously under SSA control. The identities of the deceased remain unconfirmed.
Türk called for immediate measures to secure all the sites in question to preserve forensic evidence, urging international access to ensure proper investigations and accountability.
Al-Kikli, a key militia figure in Tripoli, had longstanding rivalries with other armed groups. The SSA, under his command, operated under the umbrella of the Presidential Council linked to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Unity, established in 2021.
His death triggered widespread violence across Tripoli, resulting in fatalities, numerous injuries, school closures, and the imposition of a citywide curfew. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for restraint and civilian protection amid the unrest.
In the absence of a unified national military force, Tripoli continues to be dominated by competing militias. The UN remains committed to facilitating dialogue and establishing a ceasefire framework to help restore stability in the country.
Source: Al Jazeera
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