Amnesty Accuses Libya’s SSA of Violations Against Migrants, Refugees

A security patrol of the Stability Support Apparatus imposes security in Tripoli (the Apparatus media office)
A security patrol of the Stability Support Apparatus imposes security in Tripoli (the Apparatus media office)
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Amnesty Accuses Libya’s SSA of Violations Against Migrants, Refugees

A security patrol of the Stability Support Apparatus imposes security in Tripoli (the Apparatus media office)
A security patrol of the Stability Support Apparatus imposes security in Tripoli (the Apparatus media office)

The Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) in Libya has slammed an Amnesty International report that accused the agency of carrying out arbitrary detentions of migrants and refugees as well as of human rights violations.

In its statement, SSA pointed out that Amnesty’s report lacked the most basic standards of professional work, describing the international organization’s stated accusations as false and slanderous.

The Apparatus also affirmed its intent to implement Libyan law, observe standards of justice and human rights in its work within the framework of official state institutions, and work to deter any illegal practices that might be acted upon by its employees.

“Entrenched impunity has emboldened the state-funded Stability Support Authority (SSA) militia to commit unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions, interception and subsequent arbitrary detention of migrants and refugees, torture, forced labor, and other shocking human rights violations and crimes under international law,” Amnesty said earlier.

"Legitimizing abusive militia leaders and putting them on state payroll with no questions asked only empowers them to continue trampling on the rights of more people with complete impunity," said Amnesty's regional director Diana Eltahawy.

But the Apparatus called on the organization to investigate the accuracy of its report.



Roadside Bomb Wounds Four in Iraq's Kirkuk

Security forces in Iraq. (AFP file photo)
Security forces in Iraq. (AFP file photo)
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Roadside Bomb Wounds Four in Iraq's Kirkuk

Security forces in Iraq. (AFP file photo)
Security forces in Iraq. (AFP file photo)

A roadside bomb wounded four people in the northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk on Saturday, police sources said.
The bomb targeted a commercial district in the city center. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, according to Reuters.
Earlier in the week, four Iraqi soldiers were killed and three others injured in an ambush on an army convoy southwest of Kirkuk, which ISIS militants claimed responsibility for.
Despite the group's defeat in 2017, remnants continue to conduct hit-and-run attacks against government forces.