Gadhafi Spy Chief Abdullah Senussi’s Arrest In Mauritania Begins 3 Way Jurisdiction Battle
Abdullah Senussi, Moammar Gadhafi’s brother-in-law and former spy chief, was arrested carrying a fake Malian passport in Noukchott, Mauritania. After his arrest was announced by the Mauritanian state news agency, a three way battle over jurisdiction erupted between France, the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, and Libya which will determine who brings the Gadhafi regime insider to justice for his crimes against humanity.
French authorities issued a statement over the weekend that indicated the arrest of Senussi was the result of joint efforts by Nouakchott and Paris. No other details were divulged by France in regards to the matter.
Libyan spy chief Senussi is suspected by Libya of ordering the execution of roughly 1,200 prisoners in Abu Salem prison back in June of 1996.
Legal representation for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing victims suspect Abdullah Senussi of having played a role in the bombing which resulted in the deaths of 270 people.
The International Criminal Court has also indicted Gadhafi’s spy chief on multiple counts of crimes against humanity for his role in the deliberate massacre of Libyan civilians during the popular uprising against the Gadhafi regime.
French authorities convicted Senussi in absentia back in 1999 for the 1989 French airliner bombing over Niger which resulted in the deaths of 170 people.
Senussi is considered by some to be the “black box” of Gadhafi’s regime as the Libyan strongman’s brother-in-law was not only one of his closest advisers, but, he was also his head of security for most of his 42-year rule.
Suspected of supporting terrorist groups, engaging in planning and executing terrorist attacks, mass murders, and war crimes are just a handful of the crimes that Abdullah Senussi is alleged to have commit during his time as Gadhafi’s spy chief.
Another regime insider, Moammar Gadhafi’s son and intelligence chief Seif al-Islam, is currently being held captive in Libya while the Libyan government and the International Criminal Court decide who will bring him to trial. Click here to read more about Seif al-Islam’s arrest.
Mauritania, the former French colony in which Senussi was arrested, is not a signatory on the ICC treaty intended to bring serious criminals and those who commit crimes against humanity to justice. Mauritania lost signatory status when the current president took over in a 2008 military coup.
With lack of photographic and video evidence to support the claim that Abdullah Senussi was arrested, there are those who are not yet convinced of his capture.
Do you think the joint French and Mauritanian operation truly resulted in the capture of former spy chief Abdullah Senussi?
