Over 200 Migrants Rescued from Hidden Prison in Libya

Libyan security forces rescued more than 200 migrants from a secret underground prison in the town of Kufra in southeastern Libya. Two local security sources confirmed the operation on Sunday. Authorities discovered the prison nearly three metres underground. A Libyan human trafficker reportedly ran the site, but officials have not yet arrested him.

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Victims Endured Years of Abuse

Some migrants spent up to two years locked inside the underground cells, according to security officials. Authorities described the conditions as extremely inhumane. One source called the case one of the most serious crimes against humanity found in the region. The rescued migrants include women and children from sub-Saharan Africa, mainly from Somalia and Eritrea.

Libya Remains Dangerous Route for Migrants

Kufra lies about 1,700 kilometres from the capital, Tripoli. Libya has become a major transit route for migrants since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Many migrants travel through the country hoping to reach Europe or find work. Weak security leaves them exposed to trafficking and abuse.

Last week, authorities found at least 21 migrant bodies in a mass grave in eastern Libya. Survivors showed signs of torture. Libya’s attorney general confirmed that officials sent one suspect to court. In February last year, authorities recovered dozens of migrant bodies from mass graves in Kufra. The town also hosts thousands of Sudanese refugees who fled the conflict that began in 2023.

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