International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for a militia officer accused of war crimes in Libya
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has unsealed an arrest warrant for Saif Suleiman Sneidel, a suspect in war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Second Libyan Civil War. The warrant was issued on November 10, 2020, and made public in August 2025 [1][3].
Sneidel, who is believed to have served in Group 50, a sub-unit of the Al-Saiqa Brigade, is accused of murder, torture, and outrages upon personal dignity. These alleged crimes took place in Benghazi and its surrounding areas, Libya, between June 2016 and July 2017 [1][3].
The Al-Saiqa Brigade, led by the late Libyan commander Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli, was involved in "Operation Dignity," a military campaign in Benghazi during the civil war [1].
The ICC's jurisdiction over Libya stems from a 2011 UN Security Council referral (Resolution 1970/2011), allowing it to investigate and prosecute war crimes despite Libya not being a party to the Rome Statute. The warrant was issued by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber based on reasonable grounds supporting Sneidel’s alleged responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law in the context of Libya’s ongoing internal conflict [1][2].
Meanwhile, another Libyan suspect, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, was arrested by German authorities on July 16, 2025 for war crimes and crimes against humanity [2]. El Hishri, who is also linked to the Al-Saiqa Brigade, remains in custody in Germany pending legal proceedings.
The ICC has been investigating atrocities in Libya since 2011, following the UN Security Council referral. The prosecution alleges that Sneidel participated in three executions where a total of 23 people were murdered, and was involved in eight executions, three of which were carried out by Al-Werfalli, who is the subject of two ICC arrest warrants [1][3].
Deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan expressed hope that the public announcement would create momentum for Sneidel's arrest and surrender [2]. The decision to make the arrest warrant public followed a second application by the prosecutor's office to increase the prospects for Sneidel's arrest [2].
Libya has faced years of instability, militia violence, and fractured government since Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011. The ICC can now discuss issues related to possible arrest with states, the UN Security Council, and the international community at large, fostering support and cooperation in the pursuit of justice for war crimes in Libya.
References:
[1] International Criminal Court. (2020). Warrant of Arrest for Saif Suleiman Sneidel. Retrieved from https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=otp-20-50
[2] Reuters. (2025, July 16). German authorities arrest Libyan suspect for war crimes, crimes against humanity. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-authorities-arrest-libyan-suspect-war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-2025-07-16/
[3] Al Jazeera. (2025, August 15). International Criminal Court unseals arrest warrant for Saif Suleiman Sneidel. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/15/international-criminal-court-unseals-arrest-warrant-for-saif-suleiman-sneidel
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has not only issued an arrest warrant for Saif Suleiman Sneidel but also for another Libyan suspect, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, in connection with war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Second Libyan Civil War.
- Besides politics and general news, crime-and-justice reports now include the public announcement of an arrest warrant by the ICC for Saif Suleiman Sneidel, who is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, highlighting the international community's involvement in addressing such conflicts.
