The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced yesterday that Libya has formally accepted the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes committed inside Libya from 2011 until the end of 2027. He made the announcement during his report on Libya to the UN Security Council.
The ICC reported that on 12 May 2025, the Registrar of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”), Osvaldo Zavala Giler, received a declaration lodged by the Libyan government declaring Libya’s acceptance of the ICC’s jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes in its territory from 2011 to the end of 2027.
The declaration was lodged under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, which enables a State not party to the Statute to accept the exercise of jurisdiction of the Court.
The ICC said the situation in Libya is currently under investigation before the Court. It was referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council in its resolution 1970 dated 26 February 2011. On 3 March 2011, the Prosecutor announced the decision to open an investigation in the situation in Libya.
Ramifications?
The announcement has huge ramifications for all those across Libya that have committed crimes in the country since 2011 and have successfully eluded the arm of international law. It confirms that there should no longer be impunity to politicians, security forces and militias in Libya.
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ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Libya report to UN Security Council
