[1] After Senussi's marriage to Gaddafi's wife's sister in the 1979, he entered the elite circle of Libya's leader and assumed various roles including Deputy Chief of the External Security Organization.

On 16 May 2011, the International Criminal Court prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity.

[12] However, a Libyan fighter later told the Guardian that the rebels had the possession of three other men who were in Gaddafi's convoy when he was killed and that he believed one of them was Senussi.

[13] The other two were identified as Gaddafi's slain son Mutassim and one of his military commanders Mansour Dhao,[13] who was still alive and confirmed his identity, as well as details of Gaddafi's death,[13] to Human Rights Watch while in the hospital;[13] Dhao was earlier thought to have fled to Niger.

[13] Later reports surfaced that Senussi from his hideout in Niger was helping Saif al-Islam Gaddafi escape from Libya.

It was afterwards reported that he would be taken to Tripoli to stand trial for charges of crimes against humanity, according to the National Transitional Council.

A trial against Senussi for crimes he allegedly committed during the time he was a close assistant to Gaddafi started in Libya.

[32] In December 2020, families of victims of Irish Republican Army bombings demanded the British Home Secretary Priti Patel to extradite Senussi to the United Kingdom.

[33] In August 2021, gunmen stormed several water distribution centers and gave the authority 72 hours to release Senussi from detention.