A mass grave containing the remains of at least 28 migrants was uncovered near Kufra, Libya, amid a broader crackdown on human trafficking operations that have plagued the region for years. This discovery follows previous grave sites and underscores the perilous journey many migrants face in their quest for safety and stability.
Discovery of Migrant Mass Grave in Libya Raises Alarms Over Human Trafficking
Discovery of Migrant Mass Grave in Libya Raises Alarms Over Human Trafficking
Authorities recover 28 bodies from a mass grave in southeastern Libya, highlighting ongoing issues of migrant exploitation and violence.
The bodies of at least 28 migrants have been unearthed from a mass grave in a desert region of south-east Libya, according to the country’s attorney general. The grave, located north of Kufra, was uncovered just days after another mass grave with 19 bodies was discovered on a local farm. This recent finding comes in the wake of a raid on a human trafficking site where authorities successfully rescued 76 migrants reported to have been detained and tortured. The attorney general’s office shared this information through a Facebook post, which indicated that one Libyan and two foreign nationals have been arrested in connection with the case.
The statement described the operations of a gang that systematically deprived illegal migrants of their freedom, subjected them to torture, and dealt with them in a cruel and inhumane manner. Graphic images purportedly showing the ongoing recovery efforts depict volunteers and police excavating the site and placing the remains into black bags for further examination. The operation in Kufra, located more than 1,700 kilometers from Tripoli, is ongoing. The attorney general has confirmed that the recovered bodies have been sent for autopsy, while investigators are looking into possible connections with organized smuggling networks.
Authorities are also interviewing survivors of this human trafficking ring to gather necessary evidence. Last year saw the discovery of a mass grave containing at least 65 migrant bodies in southwestern Libya, which the International Organization for Migration (IOM) condemned as "deeply shocking." Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has increasingly become a critical transit hub for individuals attempting perilous journeys across the desert and Mediterranean Sea in hopes of reaching Europe. In a stark reminder of the dangers faced by migrants, UNICEF reported that by 2024, the number of individuals who died or went missing in the Mediterranean while attempting to migrate to Europe had exceeded 2,200.
