Libyan authorities have intercepted more than 100 migrants and recovered three bodies in multiple operations along the country’s coastline over the past three days, the Ministry of Interior announced Monday.
According to the ministry, the body of three African migrants were discovered on a beach in Misrata, approximately 200 kilometres east of the capital Tripoli. The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately disclosed.
In a separate operation on Monday, security forces aboard a speedboat intercepted 54 migrants off the coast of Garabulli, about 50 kilometres east of Tripoli. The group was returned to the capital’s port and handed over to the relevant authorities for processing.
The day prior, on Sunday, 20 migrants of various nationalities were rescued off the coast of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, as part of an intensified maritime patrol initiative launched for the summer months. On Saturday, 39 additional migrants were intercepted off the eastern coast of the capital, though further details were not provided.
Libya remains a major transit point for migrants from Africa and beyond attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, particularly Italy, just 300 kilometres across the sea. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been mired in conflict and lawlessness, making it a hotspot for human smuggling and trafficking networks.
Migrants intercepted by Libyan authorities, even in international waters, are often returned to Libya and held in detention centers. These facilities have repeatedly been criticized by the United Nations and human rights organizations for overcrowding, abuse, and dire living conditions.
Authorities say the recent operations reflect stepped-up maritime patrols aimed at curbing illegal migration, though rights groups continue to urge for greater protection and safer pathways for migrants and asylum seekers.
Written By Rodney Mbua
