International Criminal Court: End of proceedings against Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfall in the Situation in Libya.

16-06-2022

Grace ATALUI MOKANGO

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence

In a press release published on the website of the International Criminal Court on Wednesday 15 June 2022, it is announced that Pre-Trial Chamber I has closed the proceedings against Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli. Indeed, his death automatically ends the proceedings against him. 

It should be remembered that Mr Al-Werfalli was the subject of two arrest warrants issued by the Court in 2017 and 2018 and is being prosecuted for war crimes committed in and around Benghazi, Libya between 2016 and 2018. 

The press release specifies that after having examined the information and material provided by the Prosecution, in particular witness statements, photographs and social media material, the Chamber considered that Mr Al-Werfalli's death has been established and decided that the proceedings against him should therefore be closed, and that the arrest warrants are no longer in force and the requests for arrest and surrender should be withdrawn.

Sources and further reading

Decision terminating proceedings against Mr Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli. (2022). International Criminal Court. https://www.icc-cpi.int/fr/court-record/icc-01/11-01/17-24

ICC terminates proceedings against Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli following confirmation of his passing. (2022). International Criminal Court. 

https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/icc-terminates-proceedings-against-mahmoud-mustafa-busayf-al-werfalli-following-confirmation