The head of the National Institution for Human Rights in Libya (NIHRL), Ahmed Hamza, has criticised the approach of the Government of National Unity, warning that continued alliances with armed group leaders accused of serious violations will not bring stability to the country.
Hamza said that maintaining partnerships with leaders of armed groups operating outside legal frameworks represents a dangerous convergence of power, money and weapons. According to him, such an approach delays resolving Libya’s political and security crises while undermining the rule of law and reinforcing a culture of impunity.
His remarks came in response to a statement issued by the National Institution for Human Rights condemning the meeting between Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba and Muammar Al-Dawi, commander of the so-called 55th Infantry Brigade affiliated with the Libyan Army General Staff of Tripoli.
The rights body expressed strong concern over the meeting, alleging that Al-Dawi has been linked to numerous serious human rights violations. These reportedly include arbitrary arrests, forced displacement of civilians, torture, deaths in custody and extrajudicial killings.
The institution said it had documented several cases between 2024 and 2025 in which detainees allegedly died under torture in facilities operated by the brigade in areas of the Jafara Plain, including Warshefana. It also claimed that the bodies of some victims remain in Al-Zahra General Hospital after authorities refused to release them to their families.
In addition, the statement accused Al-Dawi of involvement in migrant smuggling and human trafficking activities. It cited reports by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that documented alleged links between the commander and such crimes.
The National Institution for Human Rights argued that granting legitimacy to individuals accused of such abuses contradicts the government’s declared commitment to strengthening the rule of law and dismantling irregular armed groups.
It urged the authorities to fulfil their legal obligations by referring the accused to national judicial authorities and ending impunity for serious human rights violations.
