Libya

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan security forces have rescued more than 200 migrants from a clandestine underground prison in the southeastern town of Kufra, exposing what authorities described as brutal and degrading detention conditions along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. Officials said the detainees — including women and children from sub-Saharan Africa, primarily Somalia and Eritrea — were found in multiple cells nearly three meters below ground. Some had been held for up to two years. The suspected trafficker…

Libya rescues more than 200 migrants from underground prison in Kufra as abuse allegations mount TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan security forces have rescued more than 200 migrants from a clandestine underground detention site in the southeastern town of Kufra, where authorities say victims were held in brutal, degrading conditions for months and, in some cases, years. Security officials said the migrants were discovered in an improvised prison nearly three meters (about 10 feet) below ground, allegedly run by a Libyan trafficker.…

Libya's army chief, General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, was killed when the Falcon 50 jet he and four others were traveling in crashed in central Turkey, Turkish authorities and Libyan officials said. The aircraft was en route from Ankara to Tripoli when contact was lost about 42 minutes after takeoff. Officials said the jet had requested an emergency landing before it went down; searchers later found wreckage southwest of Ankara near the village of Kesikkavak. An investigation into the cause of the crash has been…

Libya's Path to Stability: A Fragile Balance Recent security arrangements have brought limited improvements in Tripoli, but instability persists. The U.N. special envoy outlines the current situation and the necessary steps for Libya. Security environment in Tripoli improved but remains fragile Need for cooperation among relevant actors for stability Economic challenges continue to undermine progress Security Arrangements and Ongoing Concerns The U.N. special envoy for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, addressed the…

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan authorities have deported a group of Somali migrants detained in the capital, the country’s Anti-Illegal Migration Agency said Monday, underscoring an intensified campaign against irregular migration that has swept up foreign nationals across the North African state. In a statement, the agency said the migrants were held at a detention center in eastern Tripoli and removed from the country after court orders and verification of travel documents. Officials said the deportations were carried out in…

Libya’s New Agreement to Align Financial Policies Libya's central bank announced an important agreement between the country's two legislative bodies, aimed at creating a unified development program. This move seeks to align the financial strategies of the rival administrations in a framework they both accept. Libya is a major oil producer with divided governance between west and east. The country has lacked a unified budget for over a decade. The new agreement focuses on unifying spending channels for development…

Nicolas Sarkozy Sentenced to Five Years in Landmark Libyan Funding Case PARIS — A French court on Thursday handed former president Nicolas Sarkozy a five-year prison sentence after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case tied to millions of euros of illicit funds allegedly originating from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Judge Nathalie Gavarino said prosecutors proved that Sarkozy allowed aides to approach Libyan officials for financial backing during his successful 2007 presidential bid. At the same…

At least 61 people feared dead after two migrant shipwrecks off Libya, UN agency says TRIPOLI — A vessel carrying 74 people, mostly Sudanese refugees, capsized off the Libyan port city of Tobruk on Sunday, leaving only 13 survivors, the U.N. refugee agency said Monday. The tragedy came a day after another boat carrying dozens of Sudanese caught fire off Libya’s coast, in an episode the International Organization for Migration said claimed at least 50 lives. The two incidents underscore the perilous journeys many are taking…

Tragedy at Sea: The Perilous Journey of Sudanese Refugees In a chilling reminder of the treacherous paths taken by those fleeing conflict, at least 61 Sudanese refugees perished when a rubber boat caught fire off the coast of Libya. The vessel, which was bound for Greece, burst into flames near Tobruk, an eastern port city, leaving only 13 survivors to recount the ordeal, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A Desperate Escape The Sudanese refugees, escaping the ravages of war in their…

Complex Web of Conflict: Sudan's Accusations Against Libya's Haftar In a dramatic escalation of ongoing regional tensions, the Sudanese army has accused forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar of attacking its border posts. This marks the first direct accusation against Libya in Sudan's tumultuous two-year conflict. Unraveling the Regional Tapestry The conflict in Sudan, primarily between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has frequently drawn in international actors with varying…