The Libyan Slave Trade.

“There are more than 27 million people enslaved in the world today – that’s double the amount of people taken from Africa during the entire Trans-Atlantic slave trade.”

- Lisa Kristine

The ascension of the Egyptian Empire would historically be the start of modern civilisation and society as we know it. The lands of Northern Africa would see immense migration throughout its establishment; from the ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians to the conquests of the Persians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans, the area has maintained a focal point in the history of the modern era.

The region known as Libya today however remains a shadow of its once great empires. In political and economic ruin after the collapse of Gaddafi’s regime, a ruthless civil war, and waves of natural disasters have led to rampant human rights abuses within the country; most notably a resurfacing of the slave trade.

Libya would become independent from Italian rule in 1951, and would be ruled by Muammar Gaddafi until 2011. Despite massacring thousands of civilians and supporting extremist groups Gaddafi would take Libya through its industrial and cultural revolutions. He would reform the nations legal and educational systems. In particular empowering women’s rights which were significantly needed at the time. His oppressive regime would be too much for the people to bare however, and the revolution began.

While Gaddafi was never fond of human rights, the slave trade will only expand to its current notoriety within the last few years. During the Arab Spring, Gaddafi would prove a lot more resistant than his counterparts and a bloody, endless civil war ensued. It took a collective effort of over twenty nations to end the bloodshed, but the country was left in ruin.

After the toppling of the regime there was no agreement to how to govern the country. Libya had no general system of government due to the range of different ethnic groups and tribes. Turns out they did not like one another and with Gaddafi out the picture it became a bloodbath, a free-for-all for power.

With war at every turn, funding, arms and manpower became imperative for the different groups. Some would be backed by Western Powers, others by Arab nations. Many would resort to abusing Libya’s oil reserves, however the working population had severely depleted due to the constant battles and thus foreign labour was needed.

As Libya was already a main transit point for many refugees and migrants fleeing other wars further inland of the continent, there were thousands of able bodied individuals all navigating through the warzone. The United Nations would estimate over 200 000 people would try and cross the Mediterranean from Libya alone.

Sensing this opportunity, rebel groups would lure migrants with dreams of crossing the border for a small fee. They would capture and enslave the migrants, while others would simply ambush migrant parties and kill those who resisted.

Estimations from 400 000 to upwards of a million people are currently trapped in Libya. Migrant detention centres are overrun, and the local government simply do not have the resources or manpower to handle the situation. Neighbouring countries are also in political turmoil, and developed nations have taken a negative stance on accepting migrants, sending many of those who made the journey back to Libya.

Widespread human rights violations and reports of mass robbery, prostitution, rape and murder are being documented by news agencies and the United Nations describing the situation as ”horrific”.

CNN released video evidence of a live slave auction in which migrants are being sold for as little as $400. They are sent around Libya with no pay, little to no food and subject to inhumane working conditions. Those unfit, too weak or too sick are starved and sometimes executed.

Slaves are valued on their worth, the video showed builders and painters selling for more compared to fishers and gardeners. Escaped slaves would tell harrowing accounts of their owners beating and whipping them severely, sometimes for no reason at all. Women in particular would be overworked, abused and humiliated by their ‘masters.’

With the Libyan government still struggling to hold authoritative power over the country, extremist groups rising in the region and a recurrent influx of migrants the slave trade in Libya is only rising.

While international organisations and governments have condemned the brutal trade, nothing much is being done about it. Until real change happens thousands of men, women and children will continue to be sold, tortured and abused daily, and with foreign intervention non-existent, it seems their future shares the same fate.