Libyan authorities have taken a decisive step by expelling several aid organizations, claiming that these groups are involved in a conspiracy to alter the country’s ethnic composition by promoting the settlement of African migrants. The directive to close the offices of these organizations has specifically targeted ten groups, including renowned entities such as Doctors Without Borders, the UN refugee agency, and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Salem Gheit, spokesman for the Internal Security Authority, stated,
“This plan to settle migrants of African origin in our country represents a hostile act. It aims to change the demographic composition of the country and threatens the balance of Libyan society.”
This assertion bears resemblance to a controversial statement made by Tunisia two years ago, which faced severe backlash for its perceived anti-Black sentiment.
Complex migration dynamics in Libya
Positioned along the Mediterranean coast, Libya and Tunisia serve as crucial transit routes for African migrants attempting perilous journeys across the sea to Europe. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, Libya has experienced a significant deterioration of governance, which has allowed armed militias and human traffickers to flourish. The country is currently fractured into two rival administrations, complicating the humanitarian landscape.
Reports have surfaced accusing armed groups of operating detention facilities where migrants face severe abuses, including beatings, starvation, and even death. Additionally, there are allegations that the Libyan coastguard often prioritizes documenting distress calls over rescue efforts. To date, the Libyan authorities have not addressed these serious claims.
Reactions from aid organizations
The order to expel the aid organizations came from the internationally recognized government located in Tripoli. In anticipation of this move, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had already suspended its operations in Libya, citing ongoing harassment from Libyan authorities, which included summoning and interrogating international NGO staff since mid-March. MSF expressed deep concern regarding the potential impact of these expulsions on both the health of patients and the safety of humanitarian workers.
In response to the expulsion, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) defended its mission, clarifying that the individuals it assists are not merely “migrants,” but refugees in urgent need of help. The agency reassured that it operates with the consent of the Libyan government. Spokesman William Spindler mentioned,
“We are in contact with the authorities in Libya and are following up with them to seek clarity. UNHCR has been operating in Libya for over 30 years, providing humanitarian assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers and vulnerable Libyan communities.”
Among the allegations made against the ten aid groups is the charge that they support “illegal migrants by providing them with food, clothes, and medicine,” which purportedly encourages these individuals to see Libya as a permanent home rather than a temporary stop. However, many migrants express a desire to leave Libya rather than settle there.
Over the years, sub-Saharan African migrants in Libya have faced a myriad of human rights violations and inhumane treatment, including killings, enslavement, and sexual assault. One Sudanese refugee, who was trafficked in Libya, recounted her harrowing experience, stating,
“He used to call me a ‘disgusting black’. He raped me and said: ‘This is what women were made for.’”
She further described the prejudice she faced from children, who insulted her for her race, questioning the nature of their own African identity.