UN reports discovery of mass
graves in Libya
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| A Libyan soldier stands at the reported site of a mass grave in Tarhuna, Libya (AFP) |
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)
expresses horror at the discovery of eight mass graves in Libya, and calls for
prompt investigations into the matter.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
At least eight mass graves have reportedly been discovered
in Libya, according to the United Nations.
In a statement on its official Twitter account on Thursday,
the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that it “notes with
horror” reports on the discovery of the graves, the majority of them in
Tarhuna, a town 65 kilometers southeast of the capital, Tripoli.
The UN mission also said that it welcomed a decision by the
Libyan Justice Minister to investigate the situation.
It called on investigators to “undertake the work aimed at
securing the mass graves, identifying the victims, establishing causes of death
and returning the bodies to the next of kin.”
“International law requires that the authorities conduct
prompt, effective and transparent investigations into all alleged cases of
unlawful deaths,” the UNSMIL tweet read.
The Libyan conflict
The Libyan conflict began following the fall of dictator
Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Since then, successive administrations have failed to
control the country’s many militias.
Violence escalated in 2014 after disputed elections created
discord between the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and the
General Khalifa Haftar-led Libyan National Army (LNA).
The conflict took a new turn in April last year when Haftar
led a push to seize Tripoli, the nation’s capital.
On 5 June, the Government of National Accord (GNA) announced
that it had gained control over Tarhuna, a city that was previously occupied by
forces loyal to Haftar, who had consolidated control over most of the east of
the country.
According to reports, the Libyan conflict has left several
hundred dead and has forced over 200,000 people to flee their homes.
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