Amnesty International has called on the Government of National Unity (GNU) not to reward "abusive militias" and armed groups with legitimacy and salaries, referring to forces operating in Haftar-controlled areas in eastern Libya.
In its latest report issued Friday, Amnesty accused the so-called Internal Security Agency (ISA) under Haftar's command of committing harrowing human rights abuses to silence critics and opponents, including detaining them arbitrarily and subjecting them to enforced disappearances and torture.
"Amnesty International interviewed 15 people, including former detainees, families of victims, activists, and lawyers and found that ISA armed groups in the cities of Benghazi, al-Marj, Ajdabiya, Derna, and Sirte have targeted individuals on the basis of their tribal affiliations, as well as activists, journalists, and critics of the LAAF and affiliated armed groups who suffered abuses in 2020 and 2021," the organization confirmed.
It expressed concern that the House of Representatives may earmark funds for militias and armed groups with histories of abuse, including the ISA, as the parliament reviews the government’s 2021 budget proposal.
The report pointed to the return of former security officers of Muammar Gaddafi regime under the ISA name, joined by a collection of armed groups, describing it as "a reviled security and intelligence body with unchecked powers" operating in the strongholds of Haftar's forces.
Amnesty urged the GNU and those with de facto control of territory to take steps to hold perpetrators under international law to account instead of incorporating them into state institutions and trying to secure their allegiance or score political points by granting them financial backing.
"Any attempts to integrate members of militias or armed groups must involve rigorous and thorough individual vetting," the organization said.
