In accordance with Section 5 (g) of its Guidelines, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals and entities included in the sanctions list.
Listed pursuant to paragraph 22(a) of resolution 1970 (2011); paragraph 4(a) of resolution 2174 (2014); paragraph 11(a) of resolution 2213 (2015).
Ahmad al-Fitouri is the commander of the Anas al-Dabbashi militia, formerly operating in the coastal area between Sabratha and Melita. Al-Fitouri is a significant leader in illicit activities related to the trafficking of migrants. The al-Dabbashi clan and militia also cultivate relationships with terrorist and violent extremist groups. Al-Fitouri is currently active around Zawiya, after violent clashes broke out with other militia and rivalling smuggling organisations around the coastal area in October 2017, resulting in over 30 deaths including civilians. In response to his ouster, Ahmad al-Fitouri on 4 December 2017 publicly vowed to return to Sabratha with weapons and force. There is extensive evidence that Al-Dabbashi’s militia has been directly involved in the illicit trafficking and smuggling of migrants, and that his militia controls departure areas for migrants, camps, safe houses and boats. There is information that supports the conclusion that al-Fitouri has exposed migrants (including minors) to brutal conditions and sometimes fatal circumstances on land and at sea. After violent clashes between al-Dabbashi’s militia and other militia in Sabratha, thousands of migrants were found (many in serious condition), most of them held in centres of the Martyrs Anas al-Dabbashi brigade and al-Ghul militia. The al-Dabbashi clan, and the connected Anas al-Dabbashi militia, have long-standing links with Islamic State in the Levante (ISIL) and its affiliates. Several ISIL operatives have been in their ranks, including Abdallah al-Dabbashi, the ISIL ‘caliph’ of Sabratha. Al-Fitouri was also allegedly involved in orchestrating the murder of Sami Khalifa al-Gharabli, who was appointed by the Sabratha municipal council to counter migrant smuggling operations in July 2017. Al-Fitouri’s activities largely contribute to the mounting violence and insecurity in western Libya and threaten peace and stability in Libya and neighbouring countries.