The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has sanctioned Libyan national Osama Al Kuni Ibrahim (Al Kuni) for his responsibility in perpetrating acts of human rights abuse against migrants in Libya.
Al Kuni has been added to the SDN list pursuant to the Executive Order 13726. The designee is held responsible for a range of acts that include forced displacement, attacks on schools, hospitals and religious sites and targeting civilians.
Renowned as the “migrant smuggling kingpin” for his involvement in systematic abuse of African migrants, Osama Al Kuni Ibrahim has been in charge of the al-Nasr Detention centre. The facility was colloquially named the “Osama Prison” because of Al Kuni’s notoriety.
At Al-Nasr, the criminal is known to be involved in extreme, ghastly forms of abuse against migrants, who are subjected to killings, extortion and exploitation. The range of human rights violations Al Kuni commits include sexual violence, beatings, starvation and akin mistreatment.
In addition to the obligation to the block of the interests and property of the designee in the United States, all UN member states are required to impose an asset freeze and travel ban pursuant to the UN Security Council’s Libya Sanctions.
OFAC Director Andrea M. Gacki said the Treasury has taken action in consideration of the UN Security Council decision to “expose the illicit activities of those abusing and exploiting migrants transiting Libya in pursuit of a better and more secure life”. The director’s statement reiterated the Treasury’s commitment to “support the victims of such inhumane treatment and isolate those involved in… abuse of human rights”.
The Treasury has called the Libya Government of National Unity to take responsibility in holding Al Kuni and others answerable for their actions.
