Militia stops refugees from leaving Libya

A SHARP decline in the number of refugees arriving in southern Europe has been attributed to the presence of a new local militia in Libya.

An armed group is stopping refugee boats from setting off across the Mediterranean from a city west of Tripoli. An unnamed civil society organiser said the armed group, composed of several hundred civilians, policemen, army figures, operate on the ground and beach to prevent refugees leaving on boats towards Italy.

The source added that the campaign was started by a “former mafia boss”.

The number of asylum seekers arriving in Italy from North Africa has dropped 50% compared with last year’s figures.

While the months of July and August present favourable sea conditions to make the risky journey across the Mediterranean, August arrivals are even lower than last month.

Apart from halting boats filled with asylum seekers from departing, other unidentified sources claim that the militia often apprehends refugees turned back or seized from smugglers in designated detention centres.

Meanwhile, another source stated that the group appears to seek legitimacy and financial support from Tripoli, where European states have tried to partner with a UN-backed Government of National Accord to reduce the number of refugees embarking from Libya en route to southern European countries.

Since 2014, some 600 000 asylum seekers have traversed the Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy. Another 12 000 have perished during the journey.