Libya: Migrant interception and reports of detention center abuses

Libyan coastal security forces intercepted 17 Sudanese migrants near Kambout, east of Tobruk, on September 18, 2026, before they could attempt an irregular crossing of the Mediterranean. The operation, conducted under directives from Libyan Army Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, followed reports of suspicious activity from local residents.

Separately, the Gezira Observatory for Human Rights reported that approximately 1,900 Sudanese migrants and refugees are currently held in detention centres across eastern and western Libya. The rights group stated that detainees, including women and children, face poor living conditions characterized by shortages of food, water, and medical care.

Specific allegations include the detention of over 1,200 people at the Qanfouda centre in Benghazi and 600 to 700 individuals at the Prison 71 facility in Tobruk. The observatory documented reports of physical abuse, extortion, and the unlawful confiscation of personal property at various sites, including Tajoura, Bir al-Ghanam, Osama, and Al-Assa. The group has called for independent investigations into these abuses.