The U.N. Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called on Libyan authorities on Wednesday to release political activist Al‑Mahdi Abdulati, saying he was arrested and detained last week.
Abdulati was detained on March 18 in the port city of Misrata, UNSMIL said. Misrata lies about 200 km (125 miles) east of the capital, Tripoli, home to the internationally recognised Government of National Unity (GNU).
The U.N. mission said Abdulati was reportedly detained by the Internal Security Agency, which operates directly under the GNU.
Abdulati is known for criticising the GNU’s performance on public spending and security issues, through posts on his Facebook page and in interviews with local television channels.
“This detention is not an isolated incident but part of a recurrent pattern among security and law enforcement entities in the country,” the mission said in a statement.
Neither the GNU nor the Internal Security Agency immediately responded to UNSMIL’s statement.
Libya has seen little peace or stability since a 2011 NATO‑backed uprising that ousted longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The oil‑rich country split in 2014 between eastern factions based in Benghazi, the second‑largest city, and western factions in Tripoli, with rival administrations governing each region.
The mission urged all Libyan authorities to end abusive practices, release all those arbitrarily detained and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
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