Libyan activists raise alarm after anti-corruption journalist Ahmed Al-Senussi goes missing

Activists and journalists in Libya say they are worried about the detention of a leading journalist, Ahmed Al-Senussi, who was reportedly abducted in Tripoli on Thursday.

The Alwasat Libya news site announced that Al-Senussi’s family lost contact with him after he was reportedly detained by the internal security agency.

Libyan journalist Mohammad Elgrj highlighted Al-Senussi previous coverage of political events in the country, suggesting it may be one of the reasons behind his detention.

"Ahmed Al-Senussi covers corruption issues, economic and social files, and economic policies. Primarily based in Tunisia, he announced his return to Libya yesterday after a dispute with the Ministry of Economy over publishing internal documents through Al-Sada economic newspaper, which he manages," he wrote on social media platform X.

He said he was "extremely concerning" that Al-Senussi was taken from his home and that he prays for his safe return.

Drooj, a Libya-based human rights platform, said that Al-Senussi's fate is essentially unknown as no charges have been made against him or details about his whereabouts not explained to his family.

"The series of kidnappings and murders committed against critics by the controlling authorities in Libya sends a clear message from the de facto authorities: remain silent and swallow your tongue," they said in a statement.

His disappearance comes just days after documents he published that incriminated the Minister of Economy Mohammed Al-Hawaij, which led to harassment by the internal security service of Al-Senussi and his colleagues.

"With their control over the state’s sovereign security and military agencies, the 'criminal authorities' ruling in Libya expand the circles of corruption in parallel with the narrowing the circle of freedoms and rights by intimidating anyone who threatens their privileges, even with a word," Drooj said in a statement.

The Libya-based Al Hurra News journalist Rafaat Belkhair also highlighted Al-Senussi’s arrest.

"The Libyan Journalists Network strongly condemns the kidnapping of the Libyan journalist Ahmed Al-Senussi today in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and expresses its deep concern over the escalation of kidnappings and attacks on journalists and civil society activists in Libya," Belkhair said.

Al-Senussi is a renowned media personality, with a TV show that covers issues related to the economy and political corruption.