At least 21 migrants found buried at a mass grave in Libya

Libyan security forces found 21 migrants killed and buried at a mass grave in a private farm near the eastern city of Ajdabiya, the Libya Review reported on January 14th, and the Middle East Monitor via Reuters reported on January 15th.

Officials said the migrants from different African nationalities were victims of human trafficking. Security forces also found migrants being held in an improvised detention facility within the farm. The survivors reportedly showed signs of torture, had gunshot wounds, and were in critical condition. They were taken to Martyr Mohammed Al-Maqrif Central Teaching Hospital in Ajdabiya.

Security forces raided the farm after receiving information about criminal activity at the site, local media reported, citing the Ajdabiya branch of the Internal Security Agency. Several burial pits were discovered on a farm around 10 km southeast of Ajdabiya, a key transit and residential hub in eastern Libya. The city has experienced a rise in humanitarian needs in recent years, mainly due to financial strain and population movements.

During the raid, security forces arrested a Libyan suspect with a criminal record, who was suspected of sheltering undocumented migrants and engaging in human trafficking activities. The owner of the farm was also arrested and acknowledged the presence of a mass grave on his property. Authorities said investigations were ongoing to determine whether others were involved.

The operation involved the Ajdabiya Public Prosecution, the Internal Security Agency, and the Criminal Investigation Department, with support from Brigade 166.

The cause of the migrants deaths remains unknown. Authorities said forensic teams were sent to exhume the bodies, identify the victims, and document evidence.

The incident follows a series of similar cases. In September 2025, Libya’s Public Prosecutor announced the arrest of 10 suspects linked to human trafficking networks. In November 2025, Libyan authorities rescued 47 Egyptian migrants and dismantled a human trafficking network after one victim escaped and alerted police.

Libya remains a key transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe. Migrants fleeing conflict and poverty have passed through the country since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

Many migrants make dangerous journeys through the desert and across the Mediterranean. In October 2025, 18 people died after a wooden boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized off the Libyan coastal city of Surman. In November 2025, four people were found dead when two boats carrying 95 migrants overturned off the coast of Al Khums, Libya.

United Nations data collected between August and October 2025 showed that Libya was hosting nearly 929,000 migrants from 44 countries.

Libya’s oil-based economy attracts migrants seeking work, but poor security conditions across the country expose many to human rights abuses.

Libya Review, Middle East Monitor via Reuters, Maghrebi.org