US imposes sanctions on Libyan individual for serious human rights abuses

CAIRO - 27 October 2021: The United States is designating Libyan national Osama al-Kuni Ibrahim pursuant to Executive Order 13726, based on his involvement in serious human rights abuses against migrants in Libya, the US Department of State said in a press release Wednesday.

Ibrahim is the de facto manager of a migrant detention center in Zawiyah, Libya, where he or individuals under his direction have carried out horrific abuses against migrants, including killings, sexual violence, and beatings.

'Today’s action promotes accountability and exposes the mistreatment, exploitation, and violence being perpetrated against vulnerable migrants transiting Libya in pursuit of a better life and follows Ibrahim’s designation yesterday at the United Nations,' the statement said.

'We will continue to work with the international community and use all the tools at our disposal to support victims and identify those involved in abuses of human rights,' it added.

'We call on Libya’s Government of National Unity to hold accountable Ibrahim and others perpetrating human rights abuses,' according to the statement. 

On Oct. 24, US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland asserted that the political process in Libya has achieved a progress over the past year.

In statements to Al Hurra TV, Norland said his country will support the Libyan people and leaders in taking steps to build on the political talks conducted so far in order to achieve a national reconciliation, reunite the Libyan institutions and hold the general elections.

On Oct.16, Norland, has affirmed the continued US support for Libya's High National Electoral Commission as it conducts its "important mission on behalf of all Libyans."

According to a tweet on the US Embassy account, Norland met with the HNEC head and noted with interest the keenness of Libyans to vote in order to bring the country to stability.

“We are encouraged to see that Libyans are eager to vote and move the whole country closer to stability and prosperity – in the south, east, and west," Norland said.

On Sep. 27, Norland, said the main goal for Washington in Libya is to help hold free and fair elections whose results are accepted by Libyans and assist authorities in removing all foreign forces and mercenaries in whatever way they find suitable so the country can regain sovereignty.

Norland told Asharq Al-Awsat that Libya has one interim government: the Government of National Unity; and its primary task is to lead the country to December 24 elections, stressing that the no-confidence vote by the House of Representatives won't change the government’s tasks.

He said all stakeholders are aware that elections must be held on time and the international community, especially the US, will do their best to support elections in Libya, adding - regarding the US two-stage elections proposal - that Libyans alone can decide the structure of elections and political future whether in one or two rounds.

Norland denied that the US is betting on or supporting a certain candidate for Libyan presidential elections, saying Libyans are the ones entitled to select their leaders without foreign intervention.

The US ambassador reiterated the importance of forming a strong Libyan government that can control all of Libyan cities and borders and achieve economic growth and political stability to deny all kinds of terrorism and extremism all chances of surfacing in Libya.