World
UN Report Indicts Late Gaddafi’s Regime Trial
By Dipo Olowookere
The trial in Libya of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and 36 other members of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime represented a major effort by the Libyan judiciary to hold people to account for crimes including grave human rights violations during the 2011 Revolution but ultimately failed to meet international fair trial standards, a UN report published on Tuesday said.
The report by UNSMIL and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) analyses key aspects of the trial in light of international standards and Libyan law, and makes a series of recommendations to address flaws in Libya’s criminal justice system highlighted by the trial.
The report recognizes the challenge of trying former members of the regime, especially amid armed conflict and political polarization, but points out that the conduct of this trial raises many concerns that should be addressed by the Libyan authorities.
UNSMIL and OHCHR closely monitored Case 630/2012 from the pre-trial phase through the court proceedings, which began in March 2014, to the verdict in July 2015. Nine of the defendants were given the death penalty, including Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who was tried in absentia, former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi and former Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmudi.*
In addition to monitoring the proceedings, either in court or by following live broadcasts of the trial sessions, UNSMIL and OHCHR staff interviewed many of the defendants and their relatives and lawyers, reviewed the case dossier and judgement, and had extensive discussions with Libyan officials and Libyan and international experts. The public prosecutor’s office in particular provided documentation and was available for discussion of the trial throughout the process.
The report notes that Case 630/2012 is the most prominent effort by the Libyan judiciary to bring high-profile former regime officials to account for crimes committed during the 2011 uprising and armed conflict and it welcomes the fact that proceedings were broadcast live.
However, the report identifies serious violations of due process, including prolonged periods of incommunicado detention for the defendants amid allegations of torture which were not properly investigated. Lawyers complained repeatedly of difficulties in meeting defendants in private and accessing documentation. The right to defence was also undermined by the fact that no prosecution witnesses were called to testify in court – the prosecution’s case was only briefly presented during the court sessions – and the court restricted each defendant to two witnesses. In addition, the Libyan judicial system does not allow for a full appeal but only cassation – a review focused on points of law only.
“Holding perpetrators responsible for violations is vitally important but accountability should be the result of due process and a fair trial. This trial was a missed opportunity for justice and for the Libyan people to have the chance to confront and reflect on the conduct of the former regime,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.
A full judicial record of the trial that included the presentation in court of all the prosecution evidence would have contributed significantly to shedding light on the history of the 2011 revolution and been an important document for future generations, the report notes.
UNSMIL and OHCHR urge the Court of Cassation to take into full account the due process violations identified in the report and provide effective remedies, pending the adoption of reforms needed to bring Libyan trials into full compliance with international standards.
Among other specific recommendations, the report calls for a review of the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure all crimes are clearly defined, access to lawyers during interrogation is guaranteed and other fair trial safeguards are strengthened. Detainees should be held in facilities under the effective control of the state and allegations of torture must be promptly and thoroughly investigated. The report also urges a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The global markets are experiencing relief as the United States and China, the world’s two largest economies, have agreed to slash tariffs on each other, to ease effects of a trade war.
Speaking after talks with Chinese officials in Geneva, US Treasury Secretary, Mr Scott Bessent told reporters that the two sides had reached a deal for a 90-day pause on measures.
US trade representative Jamieson Greer said so-called reciprocal tariffs were now at 10 per cent each.
Business Post reports that in real terms, the deal means the US is reducing its 145 per cent tariff announced by President Donald Trump to 30 per cent on Chinese goods.
A tariff of 20 per cent had been implemented on China when President Trump took office over what his administration said was a failure to stop illegal drugs entering the US.
China has agreed to reduce its 125 per cent retaliatory tariffs to 10 per cent on US goods.
Sector-specific tariffs, such as the 25 per cent tax on cars, aluminium and steel, remain in place.
Last month, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tarrifs. However, China was the only country exempt from the pause on the retaliatory tariffs above the base 10 per cent levies.
The development had impacted many markets across the world from stocks to oil to bonds and minerals.
Mr Bessent said after a weekend of negotiations in Switzerland, the countries had a mechanism for continued talks.
It is the second major trade announcement made by the US in the last week, after a deal was secured with the United Kingdom on Thursday.
The move signals a willingness from the Americans to make deals on tariffs.
The news was received positively by major markets.
Brent crude is currently up 2.9 per cent to $65.78 per barrel while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is up 3.1 per cent to $62.91 a barrel.
Asian stock markets on Monday as major indexes were up. In China, the Shanghai Composite stock index rose 0.8 per cent, the Shenzhen Component gained 1.7 per cent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up nearly 3 per cent.
Korea’s Kospi grew 1.1 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei was up 0.8 per cent while India’s Nifty 50 index of most valuable companies gained more than 3 per cent, as per Sky News.
CNBC reports that US stocks look set to rise on the open, based on after-hours trading. Wall Street’s tech-heavy Nasdaq is expected to rise by 3.3 per cent, and the S&P 500 index of companies relied on to be stable and profitable by 2.5 per cent.
Mr Bessent also said, “As long as there is good faith effort, engagement and constructive dialogue, then we will keep moving forward,” in response to questions from journalists.
The market will await further developments and possible ease to recent headwinds.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The new pope of the Catholic Church has been revealed as Robert Prevost of the United States, the first American pontiff in history.
Following his emergence, he will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
Voting commenced on Wednesday, and after three rounds of black smoke, white smoke billowed above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday evening.
This is the signal that cardinals had selected a new pontiff on the second day of the conclave.
Prevost, age 69, from Chicago, Illinois, is a leader with global experience. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and served as a Bishop in Peru. He most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments. He is expected to build on Pope Francis’ reforms.
There were 133 voting cardinals, who had all been sequestered inside the Vatican during the conclave. Any one of them needed two-thirds of the vote to become the next pope.
“Peace be with you all,” said Leo XIV in his first remarks as pope.
“This is the first greetings of the resurrected Christ, the good shepherd who has given up his life for God,” he said, explaining the choice of his greeting. “And I should also like this greeting of peace to enter our hearts and our families.”
Leo XIV looked visibly emotional as he waved to the adoring crowd in the square below the balcony.
A leader with global experience, he spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments. He is expected to build on Pope Francis’ reforms.
He worked for a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and was later appointed bishop of Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, where he served from 2014 to 2023.
Prevost also holds a Peruvian passport and has been a Peruvian citizen since 2015.
By Dipo Olowookere
A white smoke was seen from the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican City on Thursday evening, signalling the election of a new pope for the Catholic Church.
This is coming a few days after the previous occupier of the position, Pope Francis, was laid to rest after he died on Easter Monday of 2025 at the age of 88 after an illness.
At the moment, the name of the new pope has not been announced. This would be done later by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
About 133 Cardinals partook in the process of electing a new pope, the largest in history, with 103 of them doing this for the first time.
On Wednesday, the Conclave could not finalise the election of a new pope, with a black smoke emanating from the the Sistine Chapel.
Details later…
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