Libyan authorities have intercepted more than 100 migrants in a series of operations over the past three days, highlighting the country’s continued struggle with irregular migration along its Mediterranean coastline. The Libyan Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that 113 migrants had been stopped at sea and three bodies recovered during separate operations.
The discovery of three deceased migrants, identified only as being of African nationalities, occurred on a beach in Misrata, approximately 200 kilometres east of the capital, Tripoli. Authorities did not provide details on the cause of death but indicated the victims were part of the ongoing wave of migrants attempting to reach Europe.
In a separate operation on Monday, Libyan security forces on a speedboat intercepted 54 migrants off the coast of Garabulli, 50 kilometres east of Tripoli. The migrants were brought back to Tripoli’s port and handed over to relevant authorities, the ministry said.
Sunday’s rescue mission saw 20 migrants from various nationalities pulled from the sea near Zawiya, 45 kilometres west of the capital. The operation was part of intensified maritime patrols launched for the summer months, a period when sea crossings often surge due to calmer waters.
On Saturday, another 39 migrants were intercepted off the eastern coast of Tripoli, though authorities did not disclose additional information about their origins or the circumstances of the interception.
Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the overthrow and killing of longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has been plagued by political instability and armed conflict. This chaos has turned the country into a key transit point for tens of thousands of migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, seeking to reach Europe via the perilous central Mediterranean route.
Despite international criticism, migrants intercepted by Libyan forces — even in international waters — are routinely returned to Libya. Many end up detained in overcrowded and unsanitary facilities, with numerous reports of abuse, exploitation, and human rights violations. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the conditions in these detention centres and called for an end to the practice of forced returns.
The latest operations underscore the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for coordinated international action to address the root causes of migration and ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals at sea.
