An international legal team is set to present evidence to the International Criminal Court in early 2027 regarding violent clashes that occurred in Tripoli, Libya, on May 12, 2025. The clashes resulted in the deaths of several individuals, including Abd al-Ghani al-Kikli, head of the so-called Stability Support Device, and several of his escorts. The violence also led to reports of attacks on homes and judicial facilities.
The international legal team, led by Libyan lawyer Khalid al-Zaydi and including Anand Shah, an American lawyer specializing in international criminal law, has been working to gather and analyze evidence related to the violence. The team has collected a large quantity of video and audio recordings, images, documents, and witness testimony. They are examining possible violations of Libyan law and international humanitarian law.
The investigation is focusing on events that occurred before May 12, 2025, with particular attention to incidents that affected team members. This includes the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Stability Support Device members, reports of alleged mistreatment or desecration of the bodies of deceased members, and attacks on and looting of homes in the Abu Slim neighborhood of Tripoli.
The team is evaluating whether the intensity of the violence and its nature and organization meet the legal threshold that characterizes a non-international armed conflict. If this threshold is met, some acts committed in the context of these events could be considered war crimes under the Rome Statute. The team's assessments reflect their preliminary analysis and do not constitute judicial findings or decisions on individual criminal responsibility.
The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in Libya under the Rome Statute. However, more than 17 months after the May 2025 events, individuals represented by the team remain concerned about the prospects of accountability within the Libyan judicial system. The team plans to complete its analytical, investigative, and legal work before submitting its application to the ICC in early 2027.
The submission will include collected evidence, a factual account of the incidents examined, and a legal analysis of potential violations. The team is seeking to prompt the ICC prosecutor's office to examine the information related to the May 2025 events and determine whether there are grounds for further action. Dr. Khalid al-Zaydi expressed the hopes of the victims for international justice, as national efforts have so far reached a dead end.
Key points
- International legal team to present evidence on Tripoli violence to ICC
- Team gathering evidence on violent clashes in Tripoli, Libya, on May 12, 2025
- Investigation evaluating possible war crimes under Rome Statute
