Investigators in Libya have uncovered the bodies of 28 migrants buried in a mass grave near a detention facility in the country’s southern desert region.
According to a statement from the Libyan Attorney General’s Office on Sunday, the grave was found north of the city of Kufra, where dozens of migrants had been held captive.
Security forces subsequently launched an operation that led to the rescue of 76 detainees from the facility.
Authorities suspect that a criminal gang was responsible for the horrific treatment of the migrants, alleging that they were unlawfully detained, tortured, and subjected to cruel, degrading, and inhumane conditions.
Kufra, situated in southeastern Libya near the borders of Egypt and Sudan, has long been a key transit point for migrants attempting to reach North Africa’s coast leading to Europe.
However, Libya’s prolonged instability following years of civil war has fueled an environment where human trafficking and other criminal enterprises thrive.
Several armed groups, some with links to state agencies, are known to operate extensive smuggling networks, exploiting migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Series of reports bordering on severe human rights abuse, including unlawful killings, forced labor, and trafficking for sexual exploitation are widespread.
The latest discovery displays the persistent dangers faced by migrants in Libya, where international organizations have repeatedly called for stronger efforts to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals.
