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Senussi’s Tribe to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Don’t Know if He’s Dead or Alive

Abdullah al-Senussi seen in court. (Reuters file photo)
Abdullah al-Senussi seen in court. (Reuters file photo)
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Senussi’s Tribe to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Don’t Know if He’s Dead or Alive

Abdullah al-Senussi seen in court. (Reuters file photo)
Abdullah al-Senussi seen in court. (Reuters file photo)

Libya’s Magarha tribe stressed that it does not know the fate of its son, Abdullah al-Senussi, former chief of intelligence in the regime of ousted ruler Moammar al-Gaddafi.

Senior member of the tribe, Sheikh Haroun Arhouma told Asharq Al-Awsat: “We will not remain silent if something were to happen to him.”

Senussi, also Gaddafi’s son-in-law, was one of the top officials in the former regime. He was sentenced to death in 2015 for suppressing the February 17, 2011, revolution protests. At 72, he is suffering from cancer, and according to his tribe, is being denied treatment and medical care.

Sheikh Haroun said Senussi’s health is “very poor”, revealing that he is suffering from heart problems, as well as liver cancer.

Several parties have held the authorities responsible for his ongoing imprisonment even though former regime figures have been released from jail.

Sheikh Haroun also held the United Nations mission accountable for his safety.

“We have not seen him since Ramadan,” said Sheikh Haround, adding that his three children have been prevented from visiting him.

“We don’t know whether he is dead or alive,” he added.

Senussi is being held in Mitiga prison in the capital Tripoli. The facility is controlled by the Special Deterrence Force militia, headed by Abdel Raouf Kara.

Sheikh Haroun said the tribe was informed that Senussi had undergone heart surgery two months ago, but his relatives have yet to see him.

On assertions by Senussi’s daughter that he is in poor health, Sheikh Haroun declared: “I hold the UN, the Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, and the Presidential Council responsible for his safety.

He revealed that the tribe had twice met with Dbeibah, head of the Council, Mohammed al-Menfi, and High Council of State chief Khalid al-Mishri to seek Senussi’s release but to no avail.

The UN Support Mission in Libya “has done nothing even though we have pleaded with it dozens of times to act,” revealed Sheikh Haroun.

The mission has long called for the release of people who have been “arbitrarily” detained, but it also says that it refuses to become embroiled in the judiciary and respects its rulings.

Senussi was part of Gaddafi’s inner circle. He was close to the deposed leader for 42 years and is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

His supporters say he is being targeted because he was and still is an influential figure in Libya, while his opponents say he played a primary role in quelling the revolt.

Sheikh Haroun speculated that Senussi is being kept in prison because “he is loved by all regions in Libya.”

“The majority of the people want him to be released,” he added, suggesting that international powers, such as Britain and the United States, have been pressuring the Deterrence Force against releasing him.

“Had it not been for Senussi, the former regime would have collapsed a long time ago,” continued Sheikh Haroun.

“If he were to be released, then he would be able to activate the national reconciliation due to his good ties with all parties, including the armed forces and brother Khalifa Haftar [commander of the Libyan National Army],” he remarked.

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UN Coordinator in Syria: Optimistic About Reconstruction if Transition Succeeds

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula (Asharq Al-Awsat)
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Coordinator in Syria: Optimistic About Reconstruction if Transition Succeeds

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula (Asharq Al-Awsat)
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Since 2012, the United Nations Resident Coordinator's developmental role in Syria has been put on hold by the UN. However, the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime has revived this role.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Adam Abdelmoula, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, outlined plans for reconstruction in partnership with the new government in Damascus.

Abdelmoula expressed “great optimism” about Syria’s rebuilding but stressed that the key to rapid recovery is the “success of the transition.”

He explained that this means the transitional period—until a new constitution is agreed upon and an elected government is formed—must be secure and supported by consensus among all Syrians.

Additionally, momentum is building for Syria’s reconstruction, with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries proposing an international donor conference next spring to raise funds.

Abdelmoula said the UN is consulting with the new Syrian administration to prepare projects and cost estimates for the event.

The UN is preparing aid and technical support for Syria’s new administration, along with a development plan focusing on rebuilding infrastructure, restoring electricity, reviving health services, and supporting agriculture and irrigation to boost the economy.

“We’ve informed the new administration of our work through a letter sent to the foreign minister,” said Abdelmoula.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the UN’s “early recovery strategy,” launched last November, is still in place, though its fund has yet to be registered with the trust fund office in New York.

He promised to prioritize its registration and said: “When reconstruction begins in Syria, we will work to establish a dedicated reconstruction fund.”

As for relying on donors for rebuilding Syria, Abdelmoula said: “The UN doesn’t have the billions of dollars needed, but lessons from similar crises show the importance of focusing on strategic priorities, especially rebuilding the economic foundations.”

Abdelmoula noted that UN agencies can secure funding from donors who support development activities in various countries, a process that had been stalled in Syria for over a decade.

“Since the fall of the Syrian regime, many countries, particularly Arab and neighboring ones, have provided significant aid, and this is expected to increase,” he said.

“There are also positive signals from donors, especially Europeans, about boosting humanitarian aid, including continuing the annual Brussels Conference to support Syria,” added Abdelmoula.

He revealed that the mission has learned the European Union will resume hosting the conference this year, despite the fall of Assad’s regime.

The UN official addressed Syria’s sanctions, stating that those harming the Syrian people should be lifted.

He noted that the recent Riyadh meeting showed a strong intention from key international players to ease or fully lift the sanctions.

Abdelmoula pointed out the US decision to suspend some sanctions for six months and mentioned an upcoming EU foreign ministers' meeting to discuss either lifting or easing sanctions to support Syria’s economy, humanitarian aid, banking, and market access.

He explained that some sanctions are imposed by countries like the US, Germany, France, and the UK, which are discussing the best way forward. However, he said fully lifting sanctions may take time due to laws like the US Caesar Act.

Abdelmoula stressed that efforts should focus on reducing the impact of sanctions under the Caesar Act and working to pass new legislation to cancel it. He said this should also apply to sanctions from other countries in the form of laws.

He explained that lifting sanctions would make it easier for the UN and help both the Syrian government and people. A direct benefit would be Syria’s ability to access direct funding, concessional loans from international funds and the World Bank, and grants.

Abdelmoula explained that the UN’s humanitarian work in Syria focuses on helping people in need, regardless of which political group controls the area.

“Our efforts have included people in regions outside the former regime's control in northwestern and northeastern Syria,” he said.

As the UN Resident Coordinator, Abdelmoula represents the UN in the country.

“The government recognized until December 8 was Bashar al-Assad’s, which is why my credentials were sent to it, as is the usual practice,” he noted.

Abdelmoula also pointed out that the UN’s development work in Syria was halted since 2012 due to a UN decision.

“After the regime fell, we announced that we would resume our development work,” he affirmed.