Several countries are calling on Libya to end the arbitrary detention of migrants, denouncing the associated torture, sexual violence, executions and impunity in the process. Although Tripoli acknowledges the gravity of the situation, it is only offering promises of reforms ‘during the transition period’.
At a United Nations assembly held in Geneva on 11 November 2025, discussions focused on human rights violations against migrants in Libya. The United Kingdom, Spain, Norway and Sierra Leone publicly condemned the arbitrary detentions and the physical, sexual and sometimes fatal violence endured by thousands of migrants held in Libyan detention centres.
British Ambassador Eleanor Sanders firmly called for the closure of these centres, describing them as ‘places of torture, sexual assault and murder’. She also demanded that the UN be granted unrestricted access to mass graves containing the bodies of executed migrants, some of whom bore gunshot wounds.
Spain, for its part, has urged Libya to ratify the International Convention Against Torture, drawing attention to the issue of enforced disappearances and the widespread impunity surrounding them.
Migrants in Libya: trapped between militias, secret prisons and silence
Libya has been a lawless zone for migrants for years. Thousands have been arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned by militias or held in clandestine detention sites. NGOs describe their daily reality as a true ‘hell on earth’, involving torture, extortion, ransom demands, sexual violence and exploitation.
On 5 November 2025, a symbolic turning point occurred. Tripoli ordered the arrest of Osama Najim, the former director of Mitiga prison, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court. Nicknamed Almasri, he stands accused of war crimes, torture and inhumane treatment, including that inflicted on migrants. He presided over one of the country’s most feared centres for 13 years, imposing a climate of terror.
NGOs point out that, despite a few arrests, most of those responsible for abuses continue to operate with impunity, fuelled by the political chaos that is dividing the east and west of the country.
These organisations frequently denounce and document the living conditions of refugees in Libya, as well as arbitrary detentions and ongoing violence.
Libyan government under international pressure
In Geneva, Libya’s acting foreign minister, Eltaher Salem M. Elbaour, acknowledged the “worrying” situation amid international criticism, while claiming that Libya is making “considerable efforts” to improve respect for human rights.
He mentioned the creation of a committee to address the issue of detention centres, as well as Libya’s acceptance of the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction. However, human rights organisations argue that such promises are insufficient without concrete action.
As Libya remains an unavoidable transit point for many African migrants heading to Europe, the international community continues to demand that human dignity must no longer be optional, even in the context of migration.
