Libyan Authorities Rescue Over 200 Migrants from Secret Underground Prison in Kufra

BENGHAZI, Libya: Libyan security forces have freed more than 200 migrants from a clandestine prison in the southeastern town of Kufra, where they were reportedly held in inhumane conditions, according to two local security sources.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities discovered an underground detention facility nearly three meters deep, allegedly operated by a Libyan human trafficker who has not yet been detained. Some migrants were reportedly held in these cells for up to two years.

“One of the most serious crimes against humanity that has been uncovered in the region was found in this operation,” one source told Reuters. Another described the prison as having multiple underground cells where captives endured harsh and degrading conditions.

The rescued migrants are primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, including Somalia and Eritrea, and consist of men, women, and children. Kufra, located about 1,700 kilometers east of Tripoli, has become a major hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe via dangerous desert and Mediterranean routes.

Libya’s protracted political instability and weak security have left migrants particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Last week, authorities discovered at least 21 bodies of migrants in a mass grave in eastern Libya, with survivors showing signs of torture, according to local security officials.

In February 2025, 39 bodies were recovered from approximately 55 mass graves in Kufra, highlighting the scale of migrant abuse in the region. The town is also home to tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan since 2023.

Libya’s attorney general announced that a suspect linked to the mass graves has been referred to court, facing charges of “serious violations against migrants.”

The latest rescue underscores ongoing human rights concerns in Libya, where migrants seeking safety and economic opportunity remain at risk from human traffickers and armed groups.