UN Mission in Libya condemns kidnapping of government official

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed grave concern over the kidnapping and disappearance of the Director of the Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Unknown gunmen kidnapped Reda Faraj Al-Fraites, along with one of his colleagues, on 2 August, after he visited the government headquarters in the capital, Tripoli. Their fate and whereabouts remain unknown.

UNSMIL expressed its fears on Tuesday for the safety and security of the pair. The mission also voiced serious concerns over the exposure of “individuals who had a role in supporting the democratic transition in Libya” and state institutions to such attacks which have dangerous repercussions on the peace and reconciliation process and the comprehensive unification of national institutions.

The UNSMIL statement referred to its documentation of a number of cases of illegal arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, torture and extrajudicial killing of citizens, officials, journalists, members of civil society and human rights defenders over the past year. It called on the Libyan authorities to initiate an extensive investigation into all alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

UNSMIL head Jan Kubis stressed the need to put an end to the country’s entrenched culture of impunity.

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