Libya Shuts Down Aid Organizations Amid Demographic Concerns

Libyan authorities have ordered the closure of ten aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and the UN refugee agency, claiming they are part of a plot to change the country's demographic makeup. This controversial move has raised concerns about the safety of vulnerable migrants and the humanitarian efforts within the nation.

Libyan authorities have recently expelled several aid organizations, accusing them of plotting to alter the country's demographic composition by encouraging African migrants to settle in Libya. The Internal Security Authority has specifically named ten groups, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), and the Norwegian Refugee Council, demanding they cease operations immediately.

Internal Security Authority spokesman Salem Gheit stated, "This plan to settle migrants of African origin in our country represents a hostile act. It aims to change the demographic composition of the country and threatens the balance of Libyan society." This move has drawn parallels to an announcement from Tunisia two years ago that faced backlash for being labeled anti-black racism.

Libya, along with Tunisia, is a crucial transit point for African migrants seeking to reach Europe across the Mediterranean Sea. Following the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the Libyan government has struggled to maintain control, leading to the rise of militias and human-traffickers as the country remains divided under rival administrations. Reports suggest some militias run inhumane detention centers, where migrants endure severe abuse, and the coastguard has allegedly filmed rather than rescued migrants in distress.

Doctors Without Borders had previously suspended its operations in Libya due to increasing harassment by authorities directing interrogations of NGO staff. MSF expressed concern over the impact of the government's expulsion orders, stating that such actions would endanger the health of vulnerable patients and humanitarian workers alike.

The United Nations refugee agency defended its presence in Libya, clarifying that the individuals it assists are refugees facing urgent needs, not migrants intending to reside permanently. UNHCR spokesman William Spindler emphasized the agency's longstanding efforts to support refugees in Libya, stating, "We are in contact with the authorities in Libya and are following up with them to seek clarity."

Libyan authorities have claimed that these aid groups inadvertently encourage illegal migration by providing essential resources, thereby fostering a perception of Libya as a final destination for migrants. Nonetheless, many migrants express that their goal is simply to pass through Libya.

For years, sub-Saharan African migrants in Libya have suffered egregious human rights abuses. Stories of violence highlight the perilous conditions they face, exacerbated by societal racism. One Sudanese refugee recounted being subjected to sexual violence, stating, "He used to call me a 'disgusting black'. He raped me and said: 'This is what women were made for.'" This sentiment reflects a broader atmosphere of prejudice that permeates the treatment of African migrants in Libya, raising urgent questions about the nation's future and the plight of vulnerable populations.