Friday January 31, 2025
Libyan authorities guard rescued African migrants, including those from Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, after freeing them from human traffickers in Ajkhara. Many showed signs of severe malnutrition and physical abuse. CREDIT/ LYWitness
Mogadishu (HOL) — Libyan authorities have rescued 263 African migrants who were held in appalling conditions by human traffickers in the Ajkhara district, officials confirmed Friday. The migrants, including women and children, showed signs of severe malnutrition and physical abuse, with some held captive for up to eight months.The operation, led by the Libyan Criminal Investigation Department, targeted a rest house along Al-Nakhil Road after authorities received intelligence from the Al-Wahat branch of the agency. Two suspects, including the property owner, were arrested during the raid.
“The conditions were horrific,” said Waleed Al-Arafi, spokesperson for the investigation. “Many of the migrants were malnourished, injured, and traumatized.” Authorities discovered that several women had been subjected to repeated sexual assaults, and one woman had died from malnutrition while still in captivity.
Libyan authorities have vowed to increase rescue efforts as they crack down on trafficking networks across the region.
Among the rescued, 25 migrants were in critical condition and transferred to a hospital for emergency medical and psychological support. The others are being cared for as part of efforts to ensure their recovery and safe repatriation.
The traffickers had confined the migrants, who were from Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, at different times before bringing them to the rest house. Some had been kidnapped recently, while others had been trapped there for months.
The latest rescue illustrates the severe risks faced by African migrants passing through Libya in search of a better life in Europe. Many fall prey to human traffickers who exploit their vulnerability, detaining them under harsh conditions and demanding ransoms from their families.
Human rights groups have described Libya as a “graveyard” for African migrants, especially Black Africans, who are often subjected to forced labour, sexual violence, and extortion. The International Organization for Migration has repeatedly urged the international community to intervene and dismantle trafficking networks operating within the country.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the trafficking ring and believe the suspects arrested during the raid may be part of a larger criminal network. “We are committed to dismantling these operations and ensuring justice for the victims,” Al-Arafi said.