Amnesty International has accused the European Union of being complicit in human rights abuses after authorities in eastern and western Libya intensified a crackdown on migrants and refugees through mass arrests, detentions and expulsions.
In a report released on Tuesday (23 June) the rights group said hundreds of migrants, including people fleeing conflict in Sudan, have been arrested, forcibly evicted or deported without being given the opportunity to seek asylum or challenge their removal.
The allegations come as European leaders seek closer cooperation with Libyan authorities to curb irregular migration across the Mediterranean.
Libya remains politically divided between rival administrations in the east and west more than a decade after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The country has long served as a key transit point for migrants and refugees from Africa and the Middle East attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.
In a report released on Tuesday, Amnesty said the latest crackdown has been carried out across multiple Libyan cities and includes large-scale arrests, detention operations and forced removals targeting foreign nationals.
The organisation said many of those affected were expelled without access to legal protections or asylum procedures required under international law.
Amnesty directed particular criticism at the European Union, arguing that years of financial and operational support for Libyan migration control have contributed to a system that enables abuses.
"The EU has long bankrolled migration control in Libya with its support to the Libyan Coast Guard, which has already made it complicit in horrific violations and abuses," said Diana Elahawy, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
She also criticised recent efforts to deepen engagement with eastern Libyan authorities.
"Extending this cooperation to eastern-based armed groups with records of committing war crimes and other abuses with impunity shows a shocking disregard, not only for international law, but also for human life and dignity," Elahawy said.
The European Commission and Libyan authorities did not immediately respond to Amnesty's allegations.
European officials have consistently defended cooperation with Libya, arguing that it helps prevent dangerous sea crossings, disrupts human trafficking networks and reduces deaths in the Mediterranean.
The EU has for years provided funding, training and equipment to the Libyan Coast Guard, which intercepts migrant boats attempting to reach European shores.
Although the EU formally recognises only the internationally backed government in Tripoli, it has increasingly engaged with authorities in eastern Libya amid growing concerns over migration flows.
In a letter to EU leaders last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described continued engagement with Libya as essential.
She pointed to a recent increase in irregular migration routes, particularly crossings towards Greece through the eastern Mediterranean.
"We are providing targeted financial and operational support to strengthen border management, search-and-rescue and anti-smuggling capacities, and reduce illegal departures and the loss of lives at sea," von der Leyen wrote.
The comments highlight the difficult balance European policymakers face between managing migration and addressing concerns over human rights violations linked to migration control efforts.
The controversy has also renewed attention on the EU's outreach to eastern Libya.
Last summer, European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner travelled to eastern Libya for talks with local authorities but was expelled shortly after arriving, underlining the challenges of engagement with the region's rival administration.
Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that migrants intercepted in Libya often face arbitrary detention, abuse, exploitation and poor living conditions.
As migration pressures continue to shape political debates across Europe, Amnesty's accusations are likely to intensify scrutiny of the EU's partnership with Libyan authorities and the human cost of efforts to stem migration across the Mediterranean.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy...
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s effor...
China’s GJ-21 carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone has completed its first take-off and landing on board the Sichuan, the co...
The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
China’s GJ-21 carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone has completed its first take-off and landing on board the Sichuan, the country’s first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, state media reported on 30 October.
A powerful El Niño is driving extreme weather worldwide, leaving millions facing drought, wildfires and destructive storms as governments scramble to respond to the growing crisis.
A high-speed train involved in Wednesday's deadly collision in Spain was travelling at between 160 and 200 kilometres per hour, far above the 40 km/h safety limit, according to a preliminary investigation published on Friday.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Hackers have pulled off a staggering $6.3 billion cryptocurrency heist targeting Binance, shaking confidence in one of the world's biggest digital asset exchanges and sending crypto prices tumbling. U.S. analysts suspect North Korea was behind the attack.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment