The Libyan authorities torture and ill-treat refugees who are on their way to Europe. The EU knows this and still does not want to give up its cooperation with the government in Tripoli, as an internal report reveals.
Protesting migrants on October 9, 2021 in Tripoli.
Libya is not a pretty place for refugees and migrants who want to use the North African country as a stepping stone to Europe. Aid organizations have adequately documented how precarious the situation is in the reception camps in Tripoli, Tajoura and Misrata. About “shattering human rights violations” and the “unlawful use of deadly force” is in the latest Amnesty report on Libya the speech.
The report refers to a raid by the Libyan Interior Ministry in Gargaresh, a suburb of Tripoli. Around 5,000 men, women and children, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were there in October rounded up and taken away in pick-ups. The security forces shot at fleeing people without warning. Seven people lost their lives. Those who were not interned sought protection in front of the building of the UN refugee agency in Tripoli.
The Libyans’ dirty work for Europe
Observers describe the detention centers as overcrowded, filthy and prison-like facilities where torture and sexual violence are rife. No wonder Africans try to escape the camps at any cost.
The European Union is well informed about the situation. A confidential report by an Italian admiral leaked to the AP news agency last week shows that it is nonetheless striving to work with the authorities of the so-called unity government in Tripoli. Stefano Turchetto, head of the EU naval mission “Irini”describes the brutal crackdown by the Libyan security forces against migrants who set sail.
In some cases, Turchetto said, the Libyans used methods “that have never been observed before” and that are incompatible with the principles of European law. Among other things, the admiral mentions an incident on September 15, when a wooden boat carrying around 20 migrants was intercepted off the Libyan coast, and in which the security forces used “excessive” force. Turchetto does not give any details.
Operation “Irini” formally has the task of “by air, satellite and sea-based means” monitor the fragile United Nations arms embargo on Libya. The flagship project of EU foreign and security policy is intended to prevent weapons from entering the country and people, oil and fuel from being smuggled out of the country – although its successes in this regard remain manageable. In addition, “Irini” should also take over the training of the Libyan coast guard. This task has been temporarily suspended after the government in Tripoli refused to give permission for this last year.
In his report, Turchetto advocates fully resuming cooperation with the coast guards. The head of the “Irini” mission notes with regret that the “political stalemate” in Libya has hampered the European training program. Due to the country’s internal divisions, it is difficult to get political support for the implementation of “reasonable standards of conduct” that are in line with human rights.
No alternatives to working with the Coast Guard?
The European Commission and the European External Action Service have so far declined to comment on the report. However, Peter Stano, the EU’s foreign policy spokesman, confirmed that the EU is committed to further training coastguard personnel and strengthening Libya’s capabilities to undertake sea rescue operations on its territory. Brussels sees no alternative to working with the authorities of the Libyan unity government.
Around 455 million euros have been out since 2015 EU Trust Fund for Africa has been made available for Libya, a significant part of which went to finance migration and border protection. However, according to a 2019 AP investigation, large sums of it have gone to networks of militia and traffickers involved in the exploitation of refugees. Coast Guard members have also been complicit, handing over migrants they intercept at sea to the militias or demanding bribes for the release of others.