A recent report titled “State Trafficking: Expulsion and Sale of Migrants from Tunisia to Libya” accuses Tunisian authorities of forcibly expelling sub-Saharan African migrants and selling them to Libyan militias. Presented to the European Parliament, the report is based on testimonies from 30 migrants trafficked between June 2023 and November 2024. These accounts detail the sale of individuals at the border by Tunisian police and military personnel, highlighting a disturbing connection between expulsions and the kidnapping industry in Libyan prisons.
“They mistreated us as if we were animals”
Middle East Eye reports that Tunisian authorities arrested migrants and transported them to detention camps at the border. They then handed the migrants over to Libyan militias in exchange for payments. Payments range from 40 to 300 Tunisian dinars ($12.30 to $92.40) per person. The report states:
“The price is based on the final value which the person being sold can generate through their ransom, the overall size of the group and its composition,”
Libyan captors then force families of migrants to pay under the threat that their loved ones will be beaten and tortured. Tragically, some do not survive.
During their forced transfer, migrants endured humiliation, violence, and torture. Iron bars, batons, and taser guns are just a few of the brutal tactics used to torture victims. Additionally, women often fetched higher prices due to their exploitation as sex objects. A young woman from Ivory Coast said:
“On the buses, the National Guard [in charge of border control] search our children and women, they touch women. They touch our private parts, they rape women in front of men on the buses. In front of our husbands, they don’t care. They broke the heads of many men [because they were protesting], they mistreated us as if we were animals…”
Call for accountability and action
The report’s authors, RR[X], urge the European Union to “reopen the debate on the responsibilities of the EU and single member states in putting people on the move at risk of dying or being enslaved.” Rights groups have repeatedly highlighted the role of EU funding in facilitating rights abuses against refugees in Libya. They also call for renewed scrutiny of the EU’s financial support to Tunisia for its role in managing Europe’s external borders.
This situation underscores the urgent need for international intervention to halt these human rights violations. Crucially, the EU must hold Tunisia accountable and ensure that its funds do not contribute to modern slavery practices.
Join us in demanding an end to slavery in Libya
We call upon our supporters to take action against these atrocities. Sign our petition and demand that European leaders address and halt the trafficking of migrants. Together, we can pressure the EU to reevaluate its agreements with Tunisia and ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals.
Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.