Briefing on the ongoing violence against Black migrants in Libya
- Refugees in Libya
- 60 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
Since mid-March 2025, there has been a surge in violence, raids, mass arrests, arson attacks
and racial discrimination against Black migrants and refugees by individuals and security
officials in Libya. This briefing outlines the background to the current situation, key human
rights issues and our recommendations. The situation is urgent and we call on the European
Union, as a close partner and funder of the Libyan government, to pressure them to end this
violence now.
Methodology
This briefing is co-authored by One Day Seyoum (ODS) and Refugees In Libya (RIL). We
conducted interviews with ten Black migrants in Libya, RIL’s staff in Libya and with four
researchers from other local and international civil society groups.
Background
On 9 March 2025, a statement attributed to Libya’s Minister of Local Governance, Badr
al-Din al-Toumi, quickly started spreading online. The statement was misinterpreted as him
supporting refugees permanently staying in Libya, which angered large segments of the
population and caused a surge in hate speech against Black migrants online. videos
circulated showing Black migrants in public with captions and comments about them taking
over Libyan society. According to Libyan researcher Asma Khalif, this sentiment is a result of
deep-rooted racism in Libyan society against both Black Libyans and migrants. Black migrants specifically are constantly framed as a security threat by the media and government officials.
Khalif argues that they are instrumentalised by the government to distract the population
from domestic issues such as the political instability and the financial crisis that the country
has been experiencing since early 2024. In the past month, several government officials,
including Minister of Interior Emad Al-Trabelsi, have made inflammatory statements about
Black migrants which has fueled anger among the public.
Since 2016, the European Union and its member states have worked closely with the Libyan
government to prevent migrants and refugees from reaching Europe. This support has come
through extensive funding, equipment and training. They support detention centres where
migrants are held to prevent them from reaching Europe. These detention centres are ripe
with abuse, including torture, sexual violence and extortion. The EU also supports the Libyan
coastguard to stop migrants who try to cross to Europe, instead bringing them back to
Libyan detention centres. Khalil argues that migration is also instrumentalised by the Libyan
government to get more funding from Europe. In response to the public outrage about
migration, the Minister of Interior quickly made a statement saying that they need more
money from the EU to deal with the migrants.
Key Human Rights Concerns
Online hate speech has pushed Libyans to start protesting in different cities. At the same
time, the government has started conducting raids and mass arrests of Black migrants. One
migrant we interviewed told us: "The police arrested my friends. I barely escaped. Here, we
are treated as criminals for simply existing." They are being taken to detention centres
where they face extensive abuse. There has been excessive violence from the public and
security officials in these protests and raids. In Sabrata, hundreds were arrested and one
migrant was killed in the process. In another incident in Ben-Gashir, security officials evicted
migrants from their homes and burned their belongings.
All the Black migrants that we interviewed have experienced racial discrimination from the
public. They are repeatedly attacked, robbed, threatened, harassed and referred to as slaves
and criminals. It has become worse since this wave of violence started in mid-March. In
Ghut-Shaal, a district of Tripoli, a group of Libyan civilians attacked Black people, targeting all African shops. Many Black migrants have also been evicted from their homes and fired from their jobs.
Black migrants in Libya are currently terrified of leaving their homes in case they get arrested
by security officials or attacked by members of the public. Many are unable to get enough
food and essential supplies. One migrant we spoke to said: "I eat once a day, if I’m lucky. But the hunger is nothing compared to the fear." UNHCR has issued a statement urging people to stay home and to avoid public gatherings.
According to Amnesty International researcher Mahmoud Shalaby, the Tripoli-based Internal
Security Agency, affiliated with the Government of National Unity, launched in March a
crackdown on humanitarian organisations supporting migrants and refugees. ISA agents
summoned NGOs workers for unlawful interrogations and closed down several offices
without due process. Some organisations, including UNHCR, have closed down their offices
in fear of safety for their staff.
Recommendations
These raids and attacks are likely to continue as long as the anger among the public exists,
and as long as the Libyan government continues to fuel anti-immigration sentiment. It is
therefore critical that we pressure the Libyan government to stop the violence and mass
arrests now.
The EU must intervene since their funds are fueling human rights abuses. The Libyan
government does not want to lose this funding and the EU must take advantage of this. They
urgently need to pressure Libyan authorities to stop the raids and to stop the public's
violence against refugees.
Ultimately, however, the EU needs to put an end to the abusive system keeping migrants in
Libya and instead create safe and legal routes to Europe.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
SEND A PRE-WRITTEN EMAIL CALLING ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TO INTERVENE
Target of campaign: EU Ambassador to Libya, His Excellency Nicola Orlando
To:
Subject:
Stop violence against Black migrants in Libya
Body:
Dear HE Nicola Orlando,
I write to express my concern about the ongoing violence against Black migrants in Libya. Since mid-March 2025, there has been a surge in violence, raids, mass arrests, arson attacks and racial discrimination against Black migrants and refugees by individuals and security officials.
Black migrants in Libya are currently terrified of leaving their homes in case they get arrested by security officials or attacked by members of the public. Many are unable to get enough food and essential supplies. One migrant who was interviewed by an NGO said: "I eat once a day, if I’m lucky. But the hunger is nothing compared to the fear." UNHCR has issued a statement urging people to stay home and to avoid public gatherings.
The European Union funds, trains and equips the Libyan government to stop migrants from reaching Europe. The European Union must intervene since your funds are fuelling human rights abuses.
I urge you to pressure Libyan authorities to stop the raids and to stop the public's violence against refugees.
We are a self organised people both on the move at destination countries who work tirelessly to fight for dignity and protection of the rights of Black People on the move in North Africa and Europe. We are not funded and therefore, your small donation counts on all level. Please donate PayPal.me/refugeesinlibya