Abuse of African Migrants in Libya

Thousands of African migrants cross into Libya every year in the hope of crossing over to Europe. Since the assassination of Gaddafi in October 2011 by NATO-backed rebels and the ensuing collapse of the Libyan state, conditions for newcomers have radically deteriorated. As this Al Jazeera clip from 2018 reports, many end up trapped in illegal detention centres, where they face torture and other inhumane treatment.

According to Migration Policy, ‘those living in the community are vulnerable to extortion, violence and slave-like work conditions, while migrants held in detention centres may experience overcrowding, sexual abuse, forced labour, torture, and deprivation of food, sunlight and water.’

While Libyan authorities continue to deny these allegations, claiming that ‘the issue of migrant abuse is being fabricated to force international intervention,’ the abuse has been widely documented, with first-hand testimonies provided by those who made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean and reached Europe.

Unlike today, during Gadaffi’s time, Libya had a thriving job market that made it an attractive destination for African migrants. There were roughly 2.5-million migrant workers according to the International Organization for Migration. Thirteen years later, it has become one of the worst places to be an African migrant. Under the guise of propelling democracy and advocating for human rights, the West turned Libya from a successful, economically prosperous nation, to a failed state.

You can watch Al Jazeera’s full report here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjDjVxISk8A