The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced yesterday that its Office of the Prosecutor welcomed the unsealing of the arrest warrant for Libyan suspect Saif Suleiman Sneidel.
Sneidel is accused of the war crimes of murder, outrages upon personal dignity and torture in eastern Libya in the context of a non-international armed conflict.
Mr Sneidel was an officer of Group 50 in the Al-Saiqa Brigade, which participated in an operation launched by the so-called Libyan National Army in Benghazi, known as Operation Dignity, in May 2014.
In issuing the arrest warrant in November 2020, the ICC said the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Sneidel participated in three executions where a total of 23 people were murdered. These executions took place on or before 3 June 2016, on or before 19 June 2017, and on or about 17 July 2017, in Benghazi or surrounding areas. The Chamber also concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Sneidel is criminally responsible for torture.
The original decision, like the Office’s application filed in May 2020, was under seal to maximise arrest opportunities and to minimise risks to an ongoing criminal investigation. For this reason, no details of the application or warrant could be provided until this stage, the ICC explained.
The Office of the Prosecutor however requested in July 2025 to unseal the warrant due to changes in circumstances, and to increase prospects for arrest.
“The judges’ decision to unseal the warrant improves chances of arrest. The Court can now discuss issues related to possible arrest with States, the UN Security Council, and the international community at large, fostering support and cooperation. We hope to create the momentum for Mr Sneidel’s arrest and surrender,” said Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan.
The Office calls on Libyan authorities to execute the arrest warrant, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), which referred the Situation in Libya to the ICC. The OTP seeks to work closely with the Registry and the Court’s partners to help secure the suspect’s arrest.
The Sneidel case falls under alleged crimes related to the 2014-2020 operations, demonstrating the Office’s commitment to seek accountability for Libyan victims across multiple lines of inquiry. The investigation into Libya follows four key lines of inquiry: the 2011 violence, crimes in detention facilities, crimes related to the 2014-2020 operations, and crimes against migrants. As the Office pledged to the UN Security Council, the Libya situation continues to be a significant priority.
On 16 July 2025, another suspect in the Situation in Libya, Mr Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, was arrested by authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany pursuant to an ICC warrant of arrest for crimes in detention facilities.
The case against Mr Sneidel is closely connected to that of deceased ICC suspect Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli. The Prosecution alleges that Mr Sneidel was a close associate of Mr Al-Werfalli, and had an important leadership role alongside him in the Al-Saiqa Brigade. Prior to his death, Mr Al-Werfalli was the subject of two ICC arrest warrants for eight executions in Benghazi, three of which the Prosecution alleges Mr Sneidel participated in.
The Office expresses its gratitude to victims and witnesses for their courage and determination to cooperate with the investigation.
“Our Office remains deeply committed to deliver accountability for victims of atrocities in Libya. Results of our work are because of and for them. With their commitment, and with the cooperation and support of all partners, we can make inroads in fighting impunity in Libya and across all situations,” said Deputy Prosecutor Khan.
