Amid rising concerns over human rights violations, 31 civil society organizations have urged the European Union (EU) and its member states to terminate their collaboration with Libyan authorities on migration control. This call to action comes as the EU plans to bolster cooperative measures with rival authorities in Eastern and Western Libya, areas notorious for their harsh treatment of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. In a comprehensive statement, these groups emphasized the alarming record of human rights abuses perpetrated against migrants, highlighting patterns of indefinite arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence, and forced labor.
The ongoing cooperation between the EU and Libya has been a point of contention due to its facilitation of the interception and forcible return of tens of thousands of migrants back to Libyan shores, where they face dire human rights violations. This has been particularly concerning as recent leaks by NGO Statewatch indicate that the EU has been collaborating with Libya’s Eastern Forces. The documents suggest enhancements in training, support, and the establishment of a regional migration coordination center in Benghazi, modeled on previous partnerships with Western-based authorities here.
The renewed collaboration occurs against the backdrop of Libya’s transformation into a hub for human trafficking, exacerbated since the 2011 NATO intervention and the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Recent revelations include the discovery of mass graves containing scores of bodies and Libya’s role as a launch point for trafficking flights bound for Nicaragua, with the ultimate aim of reaching the United States. The United Nations has continuously called on the EU to prioritize life-saving search and rescue operations at sea and halt interceptions and returns to Libya.
The EU has confirmed on social media its intentions to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and a surveillance tower with radar capabilities in Eastern Libya cities controlled by the Libyan Arab Armed Forces. This approach echoes a comparable 2017 agreement with Libya’s Western authorities, what some argue further emboldens rival factions within the fragmented Libyan political landscape according to reports.
Among the prominent organizations backing this initiative are Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Sea-Watch. Their united stance underscores growing international pressure on the EU to reassess its policies in Libya, urging an alignment with global human rights standards and humanitarian obligations.