Libyan Coast Guard Faces New Accusation of ‘Life-Threatening’ Measures
German charity SOS Humanity has accused the Libyan coast guard of using violence, including firing live bullets into the water during an intervention on Saturday (Mar. 4). The NGO reported that migrants on three unseaworthy boats bound for Europe were compelled to jump into the water. The crew of Humanity 1 managed to rescue 77 migrants. Still, many others were forcibly taken aboard a Libyan coast guard vessel, resulting in the separation of at least six family members from each other. Tragically, at least one migrant drowned during this incident.
SOS Humanity characterized the intervention as “life-threatening,” raising concerns about the safety and well-being of migrants attempting perilous journeys across the Mediterranean. Notably, the Libyan Coast Guard has been supported by funding from the European Union since 2015, a measure aimed at curbing the flow of migrants from North Africa to Italian shores.
As part of this arrangement, the Libyan coast guard intercepts migrants in both Libyan and international waters, returning them to Libya. Last year alone, approximately 17,200 migrants were intercepted and sent back to Libya. However, the conditions in government-run detention centers in Libya have been widely condemned for their human rights abuses. Reports indicate instances of forced labor, beatings, rapes, and torture, leading to allegations of crimes against humanity. UN-commissioned investigators have highlighted the grave abuses suffered by migrants in these detention centers.
The situation remains dire despite the EU’s efforts to curb migration through support for the Libyan coast guard. Libya plunged into chaos following the NATO-backed uprising in 2011 that toppled Moammar Gadhafi and has become a predominant transit point for migrants seeking refuge from conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. The recent incident adds to the ongoing concerns about the safety and human rights of migrants subjected to interception and return operations in the Mediterranean.
