EU under pressure after discovery of mass graves in Libya
The EU is under renewed pressure to stop funding Libya after the discovery of mass graves in the last few weeks, according to Middle East Eye on 17th February.
Members of the European Parliament and civil society groups expressed alarm in a joint statement over the “shocking and horrific” discovery of two mass graves which contained the remains of sub-Saharan people who had likely been victims of human trafficking.
Maghrebi has previously reported on the discovery of approximately 50 bodies from two mass graves in the southeastern city of Kufra, whilst noting the discovery is not exceptional as the bodies of 65 migrants had been discovered in 2024 in another mass grave.
The Libyan authorities have made three arrests but have not released their identities; only to say that two are “foreigners”, according to Middle East Eye.
Tineke Strik, a member of the European Parliament has said the discovery ought to be a “wake up call” for the European Commission to cease funding and cooperation programmes in Libya after it has been reported by human rights organisations that state security forces and associated militia groups are complicit in the abuse of migrants.
The joint statement, signed by Human Rights Watch, rights groups in Egypt, Greece, Tunisia, and Libya, said “in Libya the torture and killing of migrants in detention, their abandonment at sea or in the desert; being held in conditions akin to slavery; being subject to starvation and other serious human rights violations have been documented extensively by the UN’s Independent Fact Finding Mission on Libya and other bodies.”
The statement also said “it is clear that the EU migration funding to Libya… has not delivered on its promise to improve conditions for people seeking safety,” and so, they are calling for the suspension of funds.
According to Middle East Eye, the EU donated $487 million between 2015 and 2021, as well as providing support and training to the Libyan coastguard who are responsible for intercepting migrant-trafficking boats and returning migrants to the detention centres infamous for human rights abuses.
The support provided by the EU has led to the 2023 UN fact-finding mission saying they have “aided and abetted” Libyan authorities’ crimes against migrants.
The discovery of the mass graves and the publicity of EU complicity comes after the notorious Libyan warlord Osama Najim Almasri was released by Italian authorities and repatriated despite an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Middle East Eye, Maghrebi
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa? Enter your email address and name to receive our weekly newsletter.
