Italian authorities have arrested Libyan warlord Ossama Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
The arrest, confirmed by Italy’s Justice Ministry and a Libyan official, marks a significant step in addressing alleged crimes committed during Libya’s tumultuous post-Gadhafi era.
Al-Masri, who heads the Tripoli branch of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution (RRI), is linked to detention centers notorious for human rights abuses. These centers are managed by the Special Defense Force (SDF), a government-backed militia tasked with combating high-profile crimes like kidnappings and illegal migration.
However, like many militias in western Libya, the SDF has faced accusations of atrocities during and after the country’s civil war.
The ICC, which has been investigating crimes in Libya since 2011, recently issued new arrest warrants targeting individuals accused of abuses, including those in detention facilities. Human rights groups have documented systematic violations in these centers, prompting calls for accountability.
According to sources, al-Masri was detained in Turin on Sunday, following his attendance at a Juventus-Milan soccer match. His lawyer, Daniele Folino, confirmed the arrest but declined to provide further details, citing his lack of official appointment in the case.
Italy’s Justice Ministry acknowledged the ICC’s request for al-Masri’s arrest, stating, “Given the complex correspondence, the minister is considering the formal transmission of the ICC request to the chief prosecutor’s office in Rome.”
Libya Crimes Watch, a local watchdog, welcomed the arrest. Its head, Ali Omar, called it a “positive initiative” toward holding perpetrators of atrocities accountable. Omar urged Italy to transfer al-Masri to the ICC, emphasizing that Libya’s judiciary is “unwilling, unable and incapable of prosecuting those accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
However, not everyone shared this sentiment. Abdel-Moaz Nouri Abu Arqoub, head of the RRI center in Ain Zara, condemned the arrest as “an arbitrary detention.” A statement from the institution criticized Italy’s actions, calling on authorities to reconsider their position.
ICC’s Growing Focus on Libyan Crimes
The ICC has maintained a presence in Libya’s justice landscape since 2011, investigating crimes at the request of the UN Security Council. While some arrest warrants remain sealed, the court recently unsealed warrants for six individuals, with al-Masri’s name notably absent from public lists.
Currently, the ICC has 11 active warrants, with seven individuals still at large. In a recent report, the prosecutor’s office announced plans to issue additional warrants in 2025, focusing on crimes committed in detention facilities.
Libya remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by militias and foreign allies. The Tripoli-based government, led by Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, controls western Libya, while eastern and southern regions fall under the influence of military commander Khalifa Hifter.
Mediterranea Saving Humans, a humanitarian organization that has long criticized Libya’s detention practices, applauded the arrest. The group noted that the action followed “years of complaints and testimonies from victims made to the International Criminal Court.”
The organization also criticized Italy’s financial support of Libya’s coast guard to curb migration, arguing that such policies have enabled impunity for traffickers and human rights violators.
“He was hiding in Italy, of course, because here the traffickers feel safe,” Mediterranea Saving Humans stated. The group credited Nello Scavo of Avvenire for breaking the story, highlighting his extensive documentation of abuses against migrants in Libya.
As such, al-Masri’s arrest underscores the importance of addressing impunity for crimes in Libya. Whether the warlord will face justice at The Hague remains to be seen, but his detention signals a step toward accountability for those implicated in Libya’s long-standing conflicts.
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