On the eve of International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan’s semi-annual briefing to the UN Security Council on Libya, Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) has called for the urgent transfer of Osama Najim to The Hague. Najim, the head of the recently dissolved Directorate of Judicial Security Operations, is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Najim’s case gained renewed attention following the killing of Abdel Ghani al-Kikli—commonly known as “Ghneiwa”—on 12 May 2025 in Tripoli. Al-Kikli, commander of the Stability Support Authority, was widely accused of human rights abuses that may amount to international crimes. In the aftermath, armed factions affiliated with the GNU’s defence and interior ministries seized control of SSA facilities and released detainees, videos of which circulated widely online.
On 13 May, the GNU Prime Minister announced a series of security reforms, including the dissolution of Najim’s directorate. Despite this move, LCW stressed that dissolving the body does not absolve Libya of its legal obligations. Najim remains subject to an active ICC arrest warrant for torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearance.
Previously, Najim was detained by Italian police in Turin on 19 January 2025 under the ICC warrant but was released just two days later following a formal request by Libya’s Public Prosecutor. LCW condemned the release as a serious breach of Libya’s international obligations and a blow to accountability.
LCW urged Libyan authorities to immediately implement the cooperation framework announced in November 2024 and to surrender Najim without delay. The organisation also called on the ICC to reassess the principle of “complementarity” in light of Libya’s judicial shortcomings.
The statement urged continued ICC investigations, additional arrest warrants, and for states party to the Rome Statute to bolster international justice efforts in Libya. LCW concluded that impunity is a root cause of Libya’s ongoing instability and that international justice must remain a pillar of lasting peace.
