Libya human rights NGO requests ICC investigation into western militia clashes

The National Institution for Human Rights in Libya (NIHRL) has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor to investigate alleged human rights violations in the western part of the country. The request includes evidence regarding suspected attacks on civilians during recurring armed conflicts between militias, particularly in the cities of Zawiya and Surman.

The NIHRL stated that the pattern and scale of these attacks may constitute war crimes. The organization noted that national judicial authorities in Libya have been unable to investigate these incidents, leading to a state of continuous impunity. Intervention by the ICC is deemed necessary to protect the rights of surviving victims.

Recent violent clashes include an August 4 engagement in Surman involving militias affiliated with the Government of National Unity, which resulted in at least eight deaths and dozens of injuries. This follows another intense conflict in May that left four dead and approximately 30 seriously injured. These incidents follow a period of heightened instability in Tripoli, where clashes in May 2025 resulted in a dozen deaths, including influential militia leader Abdel Ghani al Kikli.