BRUSSELS, June 23 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Amnesty International has officially accused the European Union of complicity in severe human rights violations linked to an intensified crackdown on migrants and refugees in Libya.
The report, released on June 23, 2026, highlights a marked increase in mass arrests, arbitrary detentions, and forced expulsions carried out by authorities across both eastern and western regions of the North African nation over the past month.
According to the findings, the escalation in hostility toward migrants includes forced evictions and the deportation of hundreds of individuals, including those fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Many of these refugees are reportedly denied any opportunity to seek asylum or legally challenge their removal from the country.
The humanitarian organization specifically pointed to the expanding scope of EU engagement with various Libyan factions. While the European Union has long provided support and training to the Tripoli-based Libyan Coast Guard for sea interceptions, recent efforts have seen the bloc increasing its cooperation with rival armed groups operating in the east.
Amnesty International has raised significant alarms regarding the nature of these partners, noting that some of these armed groups hold documented histories of war crimes. Critics argue that providing resources to such entities undermines international legal standards and basic human dignity.
“The EU has long bankrolled migration control in Libya with its support to the Libyan Coast Guard, which has already made it complicit in horrific violations and abuses,” said Diana Elahawy, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
The European Commission has maintained its stance that continued collaboration with Libyan authorities is necessary. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently addressed EU leaders, describing the engagement as indispensable due to the rising number of irregular crossings along the Eastern Mediterranean route toward Greece.
EU officials consistently defend these partnerships as essential tools for border management, anti-smuggling efforts, and search-and-rescue operations. They contend that this support is specifically designed to reduce the number of illegal departures and prevent the loss of lives at sea. Despite these claims, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with reports suggesting that some migrants are being intercepted and returned to detention centers or abandoned in remote desert border regions.
As of Tuesday, the European Commission and the respective Libyan administrations had not provided an immediate response to requests for comment regarding the specific allegations of complicity. The diplomatic tension remains high, particularly following instances like last summer, when an EU migration official was denied entry and expelled shortly after arriving for talks in eastern Libya.
