Libya Frees More Than 200 Migrants From Secret Prison in Kufra

Libya Frees More Than 200 Migrants From Secret Prison in Kufra
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Libyan security authorities have freed more than 200 migrants who were being held in a secret detention site in the southeastern city of Kufra, according to two security sources. The migrants were found in what authorities described as an underground prison, where they were reportedly detained in harsh and degrading conditions.

The sources said the facility consisted of underground cells about three metres deep and is believed to have been operated by a Libyan national suspected of involvement in human trafficking. The suspect has not yet been arrested. Some of the migrants had reportedly been held in the underground cells for periods of up to two years.

Those freed are all nationals of sub-Saharan African countries, including Somalia and Eritrea, the sources said. Women and children were among the detainees, highlighting the vulnerability of migrants exposed to trafficking and abuse along migration routes through Libya.

One of the sources described the discovery as among the most serious crimes against humanity uncovered in the region in recent years. Authorities said the raid revealed multiple underground cells and inhumane living conditions inside the secret prison in Kufra.

Libya remains a key transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty toward Europe, despite ongoing insecurity since 2011. Recent discoveries include mass graves in eastern Libya, with dozens of migrant bodies recovered, underscoring persistent risks faced by migrants in the country.