Several European search and rescue organizations have suspended their cooperation with Libya’s coastguard amid growing concerns about the treatment of migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean.
The decision comes after multiple reports accused Libyan authorities of mistreating migrants, including cases of violence, extortion, and forced detention in inhumane conditions.
European officials said that while cooperation with Libya was intended to save lives at sea, evidence now shows that some intercepted migrants end up in detention centers where they face “serious human rights violations.”
A joint statement by humanitarian groups operating in the Mediterranean said they could no longer continue direct coordination with Libya’s maritime authorities “until guarantees are made for the safety and dignity of rescued people.”
The European Union, which has funded and trained the Libyan coastguard as part of its migration control policy, is now under increasing pressure to review its partnership.
Human rights organizations have long criticized the EU for “outsourcing” border control to countries like Libya, where migrants often face abuse.
The suspension of cooperation could further complicate rescue operations in one of the world’s deadliest migration routes, the central Mediterranean, where thousands have died trying to reach Europe.