The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged in her briefing at the Security Council all member states of the United Nations to ensure a consistent and unambiguous message is conveyed to all warring factions in Libya that the rules of international humanitarian law must be fully respected, and that perpetrators of atrocity crimes will be held individually criminally responsible.

Bensouda also reminded the council that outstanding warrants issued for the arrest of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli, and Al-Tuhamy Mohamed Khaled, are executed, with them transferring to the ICC for trial, was “the first and indispensible step”.

Bensouda explained that if the three wanted criminals were surrendered to the ICC, it would send a strong and necessary message to the victims of grave crimes in Libya, that the Security Council and the international community at large are serious about pursing justice and committed to taking concrete action towards that end.

She indicated that Mahmoud Al-Werfalli is still in Libya and is freely moving without any concrete evidence that he was prosecuted by the "Libyan National Army" under Khalifa Haftar's command.

"The execution of arrest warrants remains one of the ICC’s greatest challenges, leaving them wholly reliant on the cooperation of states. The commitment of the council to urge states to act, was also key," she added.