Cities along Libya’s western coast have seen a dramatic spike in illegal migrant boats attempting the perilous sea journey to Europe over the past few weeks. This surge has led to accusations that government security forces under interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh are actively enabling and profiting from human trafficking operations. “Dbeibeh’s Coast Guard commanders are working hand-in-glove with traffickers; there is no doubt about it,” said local activist Salah al-Din. As political divisions continue to paralyze Libya, oversight of security forces has broken down, allowing traffickers to operate with impunity. “When you have underpaid security forces and a lack of accountability, it creates conditions for exploitation,” said analyst Sami Faitori.

Source: Libya Today November 15, 2023 15:45 UTC