Libya’s Attorney General’s Office announced on October 20, 2023, the discovery of a mass grave containing the remains of 21 individuals believed to be migrants. Following this grim finding, a suspect identified only by the initials M.F.H. has been charged with human trafficking. The charge follows a joint investigation conducted by the Internal Security Agency and Battalion 166 in the eastern city of Benghazi.
Investigators have ordered DNA samples to be collected from the remains to facilitate identification of the deceased. Additionally, full autopsies will be performed to ascertain the cause of death for each individual. The suspect M.F.H. has a troubling history, having previously faced charges related to the murder of migrants and other human trafficking offenses.
International Reactions and Calls for Accountability
Humanitarian organizations have reacted strongly to the discovery. Refugees in Libya, an organization registered in Italy that supports refugees, has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, to evaluate this case under the ICC’s mandate. They stated, “The killings… occurred within a system where people are blocked, intercepted, returned, and abandoned in Libya after being denied safe pathways to protection. This demands accountability beyond Libya.”
Similarly, Seawatch International, a non-governmental organization dedicated to rescuing migrants in distress at sea, condemned European Union policies that they claim exacerbate the perilous conditions faced by migrants. They stated, “Horrifying news: In Libya, a mass grave with at least 21 persons was discovered. Their deaths are a direct consequence of EU migration politics. Libya is not a safe place for people on the move!”
The Context of Human Trafficking in Libya
Since the NATO intervention and the death of former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a focal point for human trafficking. This most recent discovery follows earlier reports of nearly 50 bodies found in two mass graves in February 2025. Libya serves not only as a transit point for migrants seeking to reach Europe but has also become involved in trafficking routes extending to destinations such as Nicaragua and the United States.
The legal framework in Libya addresses human trafficking, with Article 426 of the Libyan Penal Code prohibiting the trafficking of enslaved people and prescribing a punishment of imprisonment not exceeding ten years. Article 428 criminalizes the deprivation of another’s liberty with a maximum penalty of five years. However, a United States State Department report indicates that a lack of a functioning judiciary, rampant corruption, and the influence of armed non-state groups have contributed to a surge in human trafficking activities in the country.
As Libya grapples with these ongoing issues, the recent charges against M.F.H. highlight the urgent need for international action and accountability to address the systemic failures that allow such atrocities to continue.
