SUMMARY
April 2026 witnessed the continuation of grave human rights violations across eastern, western, and southern Libya, with an escalation in extrajudicial and unlawful killings, particularly those resulting from the excessive use of force, civilian casualties arising from military operations, arbitrary detention, and a deepening toll of migrant deaths along migration routes. These violations occurred against a backdrop of the continued failure of the authorities in eastern and western Libya to ensure the accountability of those responsible and the entrenchment of impunity.
During this month, LCW’s field team documented the deaths of three (3) civilians and the injury of five (5) others, among them one child, in incidents encompassing indiscriminate and direct gunfire, the explosion of a landmine, a remnant of war, and death in custody under inhumane conditions of detention, occurring in the cities of Zawiya, al-Ajelat, Qasr al-Akhyar, Kufra, and Benghazi. In the context of arbitrary detention, LCW’s field team documented the arrest of four (4) civilians in the cities of Derna and Tripoli, among them a social media activist and three protesters, on account of their criticism of the authorities.
With regard to migrant fatalities, this month recorded the highest toll since the beginning of 2026, with LCW’s field team monitoring the recovery of seventy-seven (77) bodies believed to be those of migrants, among them five women, as well as migrants from Sudan and Bangladesh. These deaths resulted from drowning or from conditions of smuggling and trafficking in persons along migration routes in the cities of Tobruk, Zuwara, Tripoli, Misrata, Zawiya, Derna, al-Khums, Sabratha, Sorman, and Ghadames.
Based on its analysis of information in LCW’s database, LCW concludes that the authorities in eastern and western Libya bear direct and indirect responsibility for the violations documented in April, potentially extending to senior command levels. This responsibility encompasses security apparatuses and armed formations, including the 155th Infantry Brigade and the Sabil al-Salam Battalion affiliated with the Libya Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), the Internal Security Agency (ISA) and the General Directorate for Security Operations (GDSO) affiliated with the Libyan Government accredited by the House of Representatives (HoR), alongside the Qasr al-Akhyar Police Station, the Prime Minister’s Office Protection and Security Force, and other security bodies affiliated with the Government of National Unity (GNU). This responsibility is grounded in the subordination of perpetrators, direct involvement, complicity, or failure to prevent or investigate violations.
LCW calls upon the authorities in eastern and western Libya to take urgent measures to reduce the risks and impact of landmines and ERW on the safety and lives of civilians. It further calls upon them to cease all forms of targeting based on religious beliefs and practices, to respect the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly, and to immediately halt the arbitrary detention and prosecution of activists, dissidents, and vulnerable and marginalised religious groups. LCW reiterates its call upon the Libyan authorities to protect the lives of migrants along migration routes. It further calls upon the Libyan Attorney General to open urgent and independent investigations into all violations documented during this month and to ensure the accountability of those responsible, thereby guaranteeing non-recurrence and curbing impunity.
As in every monthly report, LCW affirms that the violations documented in this report may not fully reflect the entirety of those committed during November. The report is confined to cases that the LCW field team documented and verified, with informed consent from the victims or their families. Publication has been limited to violations whose disclosure does not compromise confidentiality or pose risks to victims, survivors, or their relatives.
DETAILS
April 2
On 2 April, LCW documented the killing of child Walid al-Sharef Kashim (5 years old), following critical head injuries, and the wounding of his father with moderate injuries, as a result of indiscriminate gunfire in the city of Zawiya on 1 April, whilst the two were inside their vehicle. Both were transferred to the hospital for treatment, but the child died the following day from his injuries.
April 4
On 4 April, LCW monitored the discovery of three (3) unidentified bodies on the seashore in the city of Misrata, believed to be those of migrants. The bodies were recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Misrata branch, and handed over to the local authorities for the completion of legal proceedings.
April 7
LCW monitored the discovery of two (2) unidentified bodies on the seashore in the Ghunayma area of the city of al-Khums. On the 7th of April, they were recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, al-Khums branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete legal proceedings.
On the same date, 7 April, LCW recorded the discovery of one (1) unidentified body on the seashore in the Ghout al-Roman area, east of Tripoli, believed to be that of a migrant. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tripoli branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
April 8
On 8 April, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) unidentified body on the seashore in the Tajoura area, east of Tripoli, believed to be that of a female migrant. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tripoli branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
On the same date, 8 April, LCW recorded the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a migrant, on the seashore in the Musayif al-Mutrad area in the city of Zawiya. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Zawiya branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
April 10
On 10 April, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a female migrant, on the seashore in the al-Fanar area of Tajoura, east of Tripoli. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tripoli branch, and handed over to the Emergency and Ambulance Service of the Ministry of Health, under the GNU, to complete the legal proceedings.
April 13
On 13 April, LCW monitored the serious injury of Abdel Monem Miftah al-Wulwal following the explosion of a landmine, a remnant of war, on his farm in the New al-Ajelat area in the city of al-Ajelat. He was transferred to the hospital for necessary treatment.
April 14
On 14 April, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a migrant, on the seashore near the Zurayq fishing harbour in the city of Misrata. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Misrata branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
On the same date, 14 April, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) decomposed unidentified body in the Hariz area of the Sinaoun desert oasis, east of Ghadames, believed to be that of a migrant. It was recovered by the Ghadames Security Directorate and transferred to the Sinaoun Health Centre to complete legal proceedings.
April 16
On 16 April, LCW documented the serious injury of Abdel Karim Dadi Mohammed in the city of Kufra, following gunfire directed at him by armed members of the 155th Infantry Brigade affiliated with the LAAF during a pursuit. He was subsequently transferred to the hospital for treatment.
April 17
On 17 April, LCW documented the killing of Ibrahim Abdel Salam Ben Omar Sasi in the al-Alous area near the Qasr al-Akhyar region in western Libya, following gunfire directed at him and the obstruction of medical assistance by armed members of the Qasr al-Akhyar Police Station of the al-Murqub Security Directorate, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior under the GNU, during a pursuit within the area.
Also on 17 April, LCW recorded the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a female migrant, on the seashore in the Janzour area of Tripoli. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tripoli branch, and handed over to the Emergency and Ambulance Service to complete legal proceedings.
Also on 17 April, LCW recorded the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a migrant, on the seashore in the city of Misrata. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Misrata branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
April 18
On 18 April, LCW documented the serious injury of Omar Youssef Murda and al-Taher Youssef Murda, following gunfire directed at them by members of the Sabil al-Salam Battalion affiliated with the LAAF inside Kufra Airport, whilst they were preparing to travel to Benghazi to accompany a family member who had been shot by members of the 155th Infantry Brigade on 16 April.
Also on 18 April, LCW monitored the discovery of seventeen (17) bodies of migrants, among them one man from Bangladesh, on the seashore in the city of Zuwara. They were recovered by the Emergency Medicine and Support Centre, affiliated with the Ministry of Health under the GNU, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
Also on 18 April, LCW recorded the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a migrant, on the seashore in the Tajoura area of Tripoli. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tripoli branch, and handed over to the Emergency and Ambulance Service to complete legal proceedings.
April 20
LCW monitored the discovery of three (3) unidentified bodies, believed to be those of migrants, among them two women, on the seashore in the Janzour area of Tripoli, on 20 April. They were recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tripoli branch, and handed over to the Emergency and Ambulance Service to complete legal proceedings.
April 22
On 22 April, LCW documented the arbitrary detention of Salem al-Mansouri (39 years old), a social media activist, in the city of Derna, by the ISA, affiliated with the Libyan Government, accredited by the HoR. His arrest stemmed from his criticism of the Derna Municipal Council’s mismanagement of compensation payments to those affected by the collapse of the city’s two dams in 2023. He was taken to the ISA before being released hours later.
April 23
On 23 April, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a migrant, on the seashore in the city of Sabratha. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Sabratha branch, and then transferred to the Sabratha Teaching Hospital to complete legal proceedings.
April 24
On 24 April, LCW documented the death of Juma’a Mohammed Saad al-Sharif1 (63 years old), following the deterioration of his health whilst in arbitrary detention in al-Kweifiya Prison in the city of Benghazi, and the denial of necessary medical care. LCW further documented his subjection, during detention, to torture and ill-treatment, the denial of communication with his family and legal counsel, and his continued detention outside any legal framework until his health deteriorated and he died.
Al-Sharif had been arbitrarily detained in September 2024 near his home in Benghazi by armed members of the GDSO of the Ministry of Interior under the Libyan Government accredited by the HoR, on account of his membership of Sufi orders, in the context of a campaign of arbitrary arrests targeting more than eighty (80) civilians in eastern2 Libya, among them women, on charges of practising sorcery and witchcraft. His death follows five (5) other deaths of detainees within the same campaign3.
April 25
On 25 April, LCW recorded the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to be that of a migrant, on the seashore in the city of Sorman. It was recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Sorman branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
April 26
On 26 April, LCW documented the arbitrary detention of Mohsen Abdel Rahim (48 years old), Abdullah al-Kabawi (43 years old), and Jihad al-Lamoushi (26 years old), from in front of the Prime Minister’s Office building on al-Sikka Road in central Tripoli, by armed members of the Prime Minister’s Office Protection and Security Force affiliated with the Ministry of Defence under the GNU.
Their arrest came on account of their organisation of a protest outside the premises, calling for the restitution of residential units they own that had been seized. They and others were subjected to assault by the armed members before being taken to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department affiliated with the Ministry of Interior under the same government, before being released the following day after being compelled to sign undertakings to refrain from participating in further protests.
Between 18 and 26 April, LCW monitored the discovery of sixteen (16) unidentified bodies of migrants on the seashore in the Bu Hasna, al-Khather, and Ain Ghazala areas of the city of Tobruk, following the sinking of their vessel, which had been heading towards Greece. The bodies were recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tobruk branch, and the General Administration for Coastal Security, Tobruk branch, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior under the Libyan Government accredited by the HoR, before being handed over to Tobruk Medical Centre for the completion of legal proceedings.
April 28
Between 26 and 28 April, LCW monitored the discovery of four (4) unidentified bodies, believed to be those of migrants, on the seashore in the Khalij al-Bumba and Ras al-Tin areas of the city of Derna. They were recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Derna branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal proceedings.
April 29
LCW monitored the discovery of seventeen (17) unidentified bodies of Sudanese migrants at sea near the city of Tobruk, on 29 April, following the sinking of a vessel heading towards Europe that was carrying approximately thirty-three migrants. Seven migrants survived the incident, whilst nine others remain missing. The bodies were recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Tobruk branch, and transferred to Tobruk Medical Centre for the completion of legal proceedings.
April 30
Between 20 and 30 April, LCW documented the recovery of four (4) unidentified bodies, believed to belong to migrants, along the coast in the areas of Marsa Dila fishing harbor, Al-Mutared resort, and Joddaim resort in the city of Al-Zawiya. The bodies were recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent, Al-Zawiya branch, and handed over to the local authorities to complete the legal procedures.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) calls upon the authorities in western Libya to intensify their efforts in demining and ERW clearance, particularly in populated areas, and to ensure the provision of urgent medical care and psychosocial rehabilitation for survivors. It further underscores the necessity of implementing comprehensive and ongoing awareness programmes for civilians, particularly children, regarding the risks of landmines and ERW.
- LCW calls upon the authorities in eastern Libya to cease all forms of systematic targeting based on religious belief and practice, particularly targeting directed at members of Sufi orders, and to immediately and unconditionally release all persons arbitrarily detained on account of their exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief.
- LCW calls upon the authorities in eastern and western Libya to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under IHRL, including the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly. It further urges them to immediately cease the arbitrary detention and systematic targeting of activists and dissidents on account of their exercise of the right to expression, as these practices constitute a grave violation of fundamental rights and entrench a climate of fear whilst deepening a culture of impunity.
- LCW calls upon the Libyan Attorney General to open independent and transparent investigations into all grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killing, unlawful killing, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, abduction, and conditions within official and unofficial places of detention, and to ensure the accountability of those responsible in accordance with international fair trial standards.
- LCW reiterates its call upon the Libyan authorities to fulfil their responsibilities in protecting the lives of migrants along migration routes in the desert and at sea, and to cooperate with competent international organisations to establish effective search and rescue mechanisms, cooperate with international rescue organisations, determine the fate of missing persons, and ensure the identification of remains. LCW further calls for the opening of an independent and transparent investigation into drowning incidents and violations linked to trafficking in persons, and for the accountability of those implicated in accordance with international accountability standards.
- LCW calls upon the Office of the ICC Prosecutor (OTP) to continue and expand the scope of its ongoing investigations into the situation in Libya and to issue additional arrest warrants, particularly against senior-level officials. It further urges the Office to intensify pressure on the Libyan authorities to fulfil their legal obligations to cooperate with the Court, execute its arrest warrants, and surrender those sought by it, given the continued absence of will, capacity, and effectiveness within national judicial mechanisms, and their inability to conduct investigations and prosecutions consistent with the requirements of the complementarity principle as enshrined in the Rome Statute.
- LCW reiterates its call upon the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) and its member states to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Libya, to fill the gap left by the conclusion of the mandate of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFM), and to ensure the continuation of monitoring and investigation into grave violations and the identification of those responsible, thereby supporting accountability pathways and curbing impunity.
- LCW calls upon the United Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and influential states to intensify pressure on all parties to respect human rights and to work seriously towards achieving transitional justice, establishing the truth, providing reparations to victims, and bringing an end to the culture of impunity that continues to fuel violations.
