Civil Society Organizations Urgently Call for Protection of Black Refugees in Libya Amid Escalating Racist Violence

A growing coalition of civil society organizations are sounding the alarm on an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Libya, where thousands of Black refugees and migrants—many of them survivors of war and genocide—are being hunted, arrested, tortured, and even killed in a wave of state-sanctioned racist violence.

Over the past two weeks, Libya has seen a sharp escalation in attacks on Black people. Backed by state security forces and emboldened by racist rhetoric from senior officials in the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU), militias and civilians have launched coordinated raids across cities including Tripoli, Sabrata, Janzour, Misrata, and Ghut Shaal. Homes have been stormed, people violently arrested, and entire neighborhoods targeted. Shops owned by African migrants have been looted or destroyed. Mass detentions are taking place, with people being sent to notorious detention centers and military camps.

More than 10,000 Tigrayan refugees—Black survivors of the ongoing genocide in Ethiopia’s Tigray region—are now trapped in Libya, living in overcrowded, hidden homes in fear for their lives. Among them are approximately 250 Irob Tigrayans, a particularly at-risk minority. In the past week alone, four Irob refugees have died in hiding. Others have been forced to pay exorbitant sums just to quietly dispose of the bodies, fearing that the smell could give away their location and lead to arrest or execution.

The situation is rapidly deteriorating. Refugees report being told by authorities and neighbors that all Black people must leave Libya within three months or face death. The holy month of Ramadan, during which violence has temporarily abated, is drawing to a close—and there are credible fears that attacks will escalate sharply in its aftermath.

At the same time, escape routes are virtually nonexistent. Tunisia and other neighboring states have violently closed their borders to refugees. Attempts to flee by sea through the Mediterranean carry the risk of drowning, extortion, or pushbacks. Traffickers are exploiting the desperation of refugees by demanding thousands of dollars for passage.

This crisis is not unfolding in a vacuum. The European Union bears direct responsibility. Through its migration policy and deals with Libya, the EU has armed, trained, and politically supported the very actors now carrying out atrocities—including the Directorate to Combat Illegal Migration (DCIM), RADA forces, and the Libyan Coast Guard. These relationships have enabled systematic torture, detention, enslavement, and now, racist violence.

We, the undersigned organizations, demand immediate action:

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
Refugees at risk in Libya—especially Black refugees from Tigray and other conflict-affected regions—must be safely evacuated in cooperation with willing African countries and international partners.
International Condemnation and Investigation
The UN, African Union, and international human rights bodies must launch independent investigations into these crimes, publicly condemn the Libyan government’s actions, and hold perpetrators accountable.
End EU Complicity
European Union member states must immediately end their support for Libyan security forces involved in human rights abuses and prioritize refugee protection over militarized border enforcement.
UN and UNHCR Accountability
We call on UNHCR and the broader UN system to act with urgency and transparency. Passive complicity or inaction is not acceptable. Lives are being lost every day.

These are not isolated incidents. This is a coordinated, racially motivated campaign of violence that may amount to crimes against humanity. Refugees and migrants are not just statistics—they are survivors, families, children, human beings. They deserve protection, not persecution. Silence is complicity.

We will not be silent. The time to act is now.

Signed: