The UN Support Mission in Libya has announced an agreement on practical steps to begin excavating a suspected mass grave site in Tarhuna, known as the "Triangle of Death". The agreement was reached during a roundtable meeting held on October 26, 2026, in Cairo. The meeting was attended by Libyan government officials, families of the missing, and representatives from various institutions.
The roundtable meeting was chaired by Stephanie Khouri, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs, and Jum'a Muhammad Salih, Coordinator of the External Affairs and International Cooperation Department at the Council of Ministers. The meeting aimed to discuss the investigation into the mass grave site, where 61 people have been reported missing. The site has been suspected to contain human remains since the city's militia, known as the "Kaniyat", controlled the area between 2011 and 2020.
The agreement focuses on providing heavy equipment to remove layers of rubble that have hindered forensic teams from accessing the site for years. Participants pledged to secure the necessary equipment with government support and enhance coordination on accessing the site and exchanging information on suspected burial sites. The UN mission stated that the excavation and investigation will be conducted under the supervision of forensic experts.
The investigation is part of the implementation of recommendations from a joint report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Support Mission in Libya on Tarhuna, published in August 2024. The report called for efforts to uncover the truth, ensure justice, and provide reparations to victims. The UN mission has previously facilitated consultations to support efforts to uncover the truth and provide justice.
Families of the missing have expressed their desire to recover the remains of their loved ones and bury them with dignity. They have also requested official recognition of their loved ones' disappearance and related rights and compensation. However, they face financial and administrative challenges, including the lack of death certificates.
The UN mission has announced that a follow-up meeting will be held in the coming weeks to assess the implementation of the commitments made by the participating parties. The investigation into the mass grave site is a crucial step towards uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability for human rights abuses committed in Tarhuna.
The Libyan authorities have previously announced the discovery of mass graves in Tarhuna, with the remains of individuals believed to have been killed during the period of militia control. The UN mission's efforts aim to support the Libyan government's investigations and provide closure to the families of the missing.
Key points
- Agreement reached on practical steps to investigate mass grave site in Tarhuna
- Investigation to be conducted under supervision of forensic experts
- Follow-up meeting to be held to assess implementation of commitments
