A detachment from the Libyan National Army, specifically units belonging to the 444 Combat Brigade, successfully executed a targeted operation that liberated 23 Somali nationals (10 men and 13 women) who had been held captive in a den by a kidnapping cell. This successful mission coincides with a surge in international reporting concerning the dire plight of migrants within Libya.
The 444 Brigade confirmed that the five kidnappers, who were also Somali nationals, had been extorting the victims’ relatives back in Somalia, demanding a substantial ransom of 60,000 Libyan dinars per individual for their release. The perpetrators were apprehended and handed over to the competent authorities to face legal proceedings.
The Brigade stated the operation followed meticulous intelligence monitoring of the network, which is believed to have links to criminal syndicates operating across African borders. The rescued victims were transferred to a shelter centre to receive necessary medical and psychological care ahead of coordinating their repatriation with relevant international bodies.
Exploitation Networks: False Promises and Dwindling Funds
In a related development, a recent analysis from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS Africa) reveals that young Somali refugees in camps such as Dadaab in Kenya are primary targets for transnational trafficking networks across the Great Sahara. These groups exploit the refugees’ circumstances by offering false promises of a better life in Europe. Investigations suggest a Libyan-based gang known as ‘Maghafi’ is spearheading these kidnapping and extortion operations. Victims are lured via intermediaries into Libya, where they are held captive and their families pressured for large ransoms.
These criminal groups heavily rely on modern communication tools like WhatsApp and TikTok for recruitment, capitalising on the harsh economic conditions and the weak legal protection afforded to refugees. Benson Kasuoki, an official with Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations, confirmed that these syndicates utilise complex smuggling routes passing through Uganda and South Sudan before reaching Libya, noting that border corruption significantly impedes counter-trafficking efforts.
Aid Shortfalls Worsen Risks in Libya
The report also highlights a worsening humanitarian situation due to a severe funding shortfall. In 2024, the UNHCR programme in Kenya received only 23% of its required financing. This was compounded by the previous US administration under Donald Trump, cancelling approximately 90% of external contracts for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), a vital support artery for refugees and migrants in Kenya. This severe aid deficit, coupled with difficulties in obtaining official documentation and employment opportunities, leaves young refugees particularly vulnerable to smugglers.
Libya, identified as a pivotal transit point towards Europe, is fertile ground for organised crime due to its volatile security situation and the extensive areas outside government control. According to the report, many detainees are held in smuggler warehouses, subjected to the worst abuses, including physical violence, enslavement, organ trafficking, forced labour, and financial blackmail. Some victims’ families have reportedly paid sums approaching $10,000 USD in desperate attempts to secure their children’s freedom, often without success.
