Author: Blene Woldeselasse, MSc
February 11, 2025
![Mass graves found in Libya, 2021 [Image source: The Washington Post]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_7bf80c4b0c49444f9ed83b9e30cd5131~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_654,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e28a6b_7bf80c4b0c49444f9ed83b9e30cd5131~mv2.png)
HRRC expresses serious concern over the discovery of numerous mass graves in Libya. Libyan authorities must establish protections for all its people, including migrants, to ensure none are trafficked or faced with certain death.
On February 9th, authorities uncovered around 50 bodies in two mass graves in southeastern Libya. Nineteen of the victims were found on a farm, while the rest were discovered in a migrant detention center. The death toll is expected to rise as survivors claim more bodies remain buried at the site. Some of the victims were reportedly shot and killed.
This is not an isolated incident. In March of last year, a mass grave containing 65 people was uncovered in the southwestern part of the country. Libya has long been a major transit point for migrants seeking passage to Europe, but for many, the journey ends in tragedy. Those who do not make it out often fall prey to human traffickers, facing extortion, torture, rape, and forced labor. The collapse of Libya’s government following the 2011 overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi has only fueled these abuses, allowing traffickers to operate with impunity.
Last month, a video surfaced of Naima Jemal, a young Ethiopian migrant who was abducted shortly after arriving in Libya. In the video, she is seen being tortured while her captors demand a $6,000 ransom from her family—an impossible sum for a girl from rural Ethiopia. Her case is just one of many, highlighting the brutal reality faced by migrants trapped in Libya.
A United Nations report from 2022 found that migrants are subjected to poor conditions and harsh treatment in an effort to retract their journey to Europe and return to their home countries.
Sustainable solutions to the migrant crisis are urgently needed. Current policies prioritize keeping migrants from leaving Africa’s shores while neglecting the root causes of their movement. European governments continue to fund Libyan authorities to prevent migration, but this short-term and one-sided approach has deadly consequences for those seeking nothing more than a better life.
We encourage our readers to follow Refugees in Libya, an advocacy group fighting effortlessly to be a voice for migrants in the region.
Glossary
Abducted – Taken away forcefully or against one's will.
Captors – Individuals or groups who hold someone prisoner, often demanding something in return for their release.
Extortion – The act of obtaining money, services, or favors through threats, force, or coercion.
Human Traffickers – Criminals who exploit and transport people through deception, coercion, or force for profit, often subjecting them to forced labor, slavery, or exploitation.
Impunity – Exemption from punishment or consequences, often referring to individuals or groups who commit crimes without facing justice.
Isolated – Separated from others, either physically or socially; lacking support or connection.
Migrant – A person who moves from one place to another, often in search of better living conditions, employment, or safety.
Ransom – A sum of money or demand made in exchange for the release of a kidnapped or detained person.
Tragedy – A disastrous event that causes suffering, loss, or destruction.
Transit Point – A temporary stopping place for travelers, particularly migrants, before reaching their final destination.
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