The United Nations has called for an urgent, independent investigation following the discovery of more than 80 bodies across multiple sites in Tripoli, many showing signs of torture, burning, and abuse. The bodies were uncovered in facilities linked to the powerful Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA), an armed group operating under Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU).

"Our worst held fears are being confirmed: dozens of bodies have been discovered at these sites, along with suspected instruments of torture and abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings," said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In May, following the death of SSA commander Abdul Ghani al-Kikli during militia clashes, violence erupted in Tripoli. In the aftermath, ten charred bodies were found at the SSA's headquarters in the Abu Salim district. Sixty-seven more were discovered in refrigerators at Abu Salim and Al Khadra hospitals, in varying stages of decomposition. A burial site was also uncovered at the Tripoli Zoo, another area under SSA control. The identities of the deceased remain unknown.

According to the UN human rights office (OHCHR), the bodies—some burned, some buried, others left to decay in hospital morgues—were all recovered from areas controlled by the SSA. Türk described the reports of mass graves and associated evidence of torture as "shocking," and said they highlight grave and systemic human rights violations.

He urged Libyan authorities to seal the locations, preserve forensic evidence, and grant international investigators access.

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Human rights abuses

The SSA, formally tasked with securing Tripoli, has long been accused by the UN and independent observers of operating secret detention sites (mostly housing migrants) and engaging in torture and enforced disappearances. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has previously warned that such facilities are likely being used to commit grave violations.

Türk reiterated the demand for full forensic access to the sites, stressing the need for accountability and transparency.

These latest discoveries add to a series of discoveries which amount to a grim pattern. In February, two mass graves were uncovered in Jakharrah and Al-Kufra, containing 103 bodies -- many believed to be migrants. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded over 1,000 migrant deaths and disappearances across Libya in 2024 alone, underscoring the dangers facing displaced people in the region.

David Yambio, the co-founder of Refugees in Libya, who is now based in Italy but in contact with members of the organization on the ground, told InfoMigrants by telephone that the discovery did not come as a surpise "When our loved ones go missing in Libya, they almost never return. They are either killed, detained, or held in inhumane conditions by state-affiliated forces. These mass graves are not isolated incidents -- they are part of a wider pattern of abuse, and the current government cannot walk away from responsibility."

He added that the organization Refugees in Libya will continue to hold those responsible to account, "no one wants to take radical responsibility or launch an independent investigation. We demand the immediate release of those in the Abu Salim Detention Center -- otherwise, we fear more bodies will be found."

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Heightened tensions

Yambio explained that it is becoming increasingly difficult to operate in Tripoli due to rising tensions between militia groups. "We can’t move safely between our field offices," he said.

He added that NGOs have been attacked, blocked, and pushed out in recent months, leaving a deadly vacuum. "People can no longer access support or earn a living. The consequences are devastating."

"Our comrades are facing a life-or-death situation," Yambio told InfoMigrants. "Many are hiding in buildings, clinging to fragile hope. In recent days, we’ve seen landlords in Libya demanding ransoms from migrants, especially those from the Horn of Africa. Women are being sexually exploited, and criminality is spreading -- not just among armed groups but civilians too."

As lawlessness rises across the country, international actors, including investigators, are facing growing challenges.

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Protests and state response

In the wake of the SSA leader’s death and ensuing clashes, protests broke out across Tripoli calling for justice and an end to impunity. Several civilians were reportedly killed during the unrest, while hospitals and other infrastructure sustained damage.

"We have received reports that these protests were themselves met with unnecessary force, raising serious concerns about the rights to freedom of expression and assembly," Türk said in a statement. The UN has also condemned the online circulation of graphic images of the victims, calling on the public to respect the dignity of the deceased.

The GNU has announced the formation of two investigative committees -- one to examine the discovery of the bodies and another to investigate the state’s response to protests. However, Türk expressed concern that Libyan forensic experts have yet to be granted access to the burial and discovery sites, delaying critical evidence gathering.

"Those responsible for these atrocious acts must be brought to justice without delay, in accordance with international standards," he said.

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Trapped in transition

Libya has remained divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Rival governments -- the Tripoli-based GNU and the Benghazi-based Government of National Stability (GNS) -- continue to vie for power. Repeated attempts at national reconciliation and democratic transition have stalled.

Türk urged both domestic actors and the international community to break what he described as the "recurring cycle of transitional agreements" and commit to building a genuinely inclusive, democratic state.

"The people of Libya have clearly expressed their demand for truth and justice, and their yearning for a peaceful and safe way of life, with human rights and freedoms at the front and center," he concluded.

Yambio stated that while "the UN’s condemnation was necessary -- we urge them to follow through with a full and impartial investigation. Current tensions shouldn’t prevent action."

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With AP and Reuters.