Latest news with #Group50
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
ICC issues arrest warrant for Libyan war crimes suspect Sneidel
The International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Friday it has issued an arrest warrant for a Libyan national accused of war crimes. The ICC said Saif Suleiman Sneidel is believed to be a member of "Group 50", a sub-group of the Al-Saiqa Brigade, and said there are reasonable grounds to believe he is responsible for war crimes of murder, torture and outrages upon personal dignity, allegedly committed in Benghazi or surrounding areas in Libya in 2016-2017.
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 days ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
The ICC makes public an arrest warrant issued against a Libyan militiaman
The International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed on Friday an arrest warrant issued against a member of a Libyan militia accused of war crimes, including murder and torture between 2016 and 2017. The Court stated in a press release that there were 'reasonable grounds to believe' that Saif Suleiman Sneidel was responsible for war crimes, including murders, torture and 'attacks on human dignity.' The Prosecutor's Office, which issued the sealed warrant in November 2020, said it had found 'reasonable grounds to believe that Sneidel participated in three executions' during which 'a total of 23 people were killed.' 'Creating the necessary momentum for arrest' The crimes allegedly took place in Benghazi or its surroundings, in eastern Libya, roughly between June 3, 2016, and July 17, 2017. The Prosecutor's Office specified that the arrest warrant against Sneidel had been issued under seal to 'maximize the chances of arrest' and minimize risks to the criminal investigation. 'For this reason, no details of the request or the arrest warrant could be provided until now,' the statement said. 'We hope to create the necessary momentum for the arrest and surrender of Sneidel,' explained Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan. The ICC, seated in The Hague, is now able to discuss issues related to a potential arrest with States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community, she added. Group 50 Sneidel is a suspected member of Group 50, a sub-unit of the Al-Saiqa brigade, which was led by Libyan commander Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf el-Werfalli, who died in 2021. Before his death, el-Werfalli was subject to two ICC arrest warrants for 8 executions in Benghazi, three of which, according to the prosecution, Sneidel participated in. 'The Prosecution alleges that Sneidel was a close collaborator of Al-Werfalli and played a leading role alongside him within the Al-Saiqa Brigade,' the press release said. The Court also confirmed that another Libyan suspect, Khaled Mohamed Ali el-Hishri, was arrested by German authorities on July 16, 2025, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC has been investigating crimes committed in Libya since 2011. This North African country has experienced years of instability marked by militia violence and government fractures since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011 during the so-called Arab Spring uprising.
eNCA
4 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
ICC unseals Libya war crimes warrant for militia officer
The International Criminal Court on Friday unsealed an arrest warrant for a Libyan militia member accused of war crimes including murder and torture between 2016 and 2017. The court said there were "reasonable grounds to believe" that Saif Suleiman Sneidel was responsible for war crimes of murder, torture and "outrages upon personal dignity". The November 2020 warrant found "reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Sneidel participated in three executions where a total of 23 people were murdered", the ICC's prosecutor's office said in a statement. The crimes were allegedly committed in Benghazi or surrounding areas, in Libya, on or before June 3, 2016 until on or about July 17, 2017. The prosecutor's office said Sneidel's arrest warrant had been issued under seal to "maximise arrest opportunities" and to minimise risks to the criminal investigation. "For this reason, no details of the application or warrant could be provided until this stage," it said. The decision to make it public followed a second application by the prosecutor's office to "increase prospects for arrest". "We hope to create the momentum for Mr Sneidel's arrest and surrender," said deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said. "The Court can now discuss issues related to possible arrest with States, the UN Security Council, and the international community at large, fostering support and cooperation." - Group 50 - Sneidel is believed to have been serving in Group 50, a sub-unit of the Al-Saiqa Brigade led by the the late Libyan commander, Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli. Prior to his death, Al-Werfalli was the subject of two ICC arrest warrants for eight executions in Benghazi, three of which the prosecution alleges Sneidel took part in. "The prosecution alleges that Mr Sneidel was a close associate of Mr Al-Werfalli, and had an important leadership role alongside him in the Al-Saiqa Brigade," the statement said. The ICC has been investigating atrocities in Libya since 2011, following a referral from the United Nations Security Council. The ICC also confirmed that another Libyan suspect, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, had been arrested by German authorities on July 16, 2025 for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He remains in custody in Germany pending legal proceedings. Libya has faced years of instability, militia violence and fractured government since Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011 near his hometown of Sirte during the Arab Spring uprising.
