Tripoli, Libya – Libyan security sources announced on Thursday the discovery of at least 21 bodies of migrants in a mass grave in eastern Libya. Around 10 people from the group survived, bearing signs of torture before their release.
The two sources, who requested anonymity, stated that Libyan authorities raided a farm near the town of Ajdabiya, about 160 kilometers from Benghazi, after receiving information that migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were being held there. One of the sources explained that the raid uncovered men, women, and children, all bearing signs of torture. The survivors were taken to a hospital for treatment and are being questioned about their detention and the disappearance of their fellow migrants.
The sources indicated that the mass grave is located approximately 10 kilometers southeast of Ajdabiya, and that investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for these crimes and to document the incident as part of a series of violations against migrants in Libya. These migrants are often subjected to unlawful detention, extortion, and torture at the hands of human trafficking networks.
This incident is one of the latest horrific events related to the migrant crisis in Libya, where thousands of people face significant risks annually while attempting to cross the country to reach Europe. Libyan authorities face considerable challenges in protecting migrants and ensuring their safety, particularly in areas outside the state’s full control, where armed groups and smuggling networks operate and seek to exploit them.
These discoveries come at a time of increasing international pressure on Libya to improve the conditions of migrants, ensure respect for human rights, and hold those responsible for violations accountable, in an effort to halt the series of crimes that threaten the lives of thousands of refugees and migrants in the country.
