HighlightTrending Story

Slavery Uproar: Libya allows emergency migrant evacuations

416

 Libya agreed Wednesday with key EU and African leaders to allow migrants facing abuse in detention camps to be evacuated within days or weeks, mostly to their home countries, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

The decision was taken after Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara called for “all urgent measures” to end slave trading and other migrant abuses in Libya at an EU-Africa summit in Abidjan.

 The leaders of Libya, France, Germany, Chad, Niger and four other countries “decided on an extreme emergency operation to evacuate from Libya those who want to be”, Macron told reporters after their emergency talks on the summit sidelines.

The summit comes just two weeks after US network CNN aired footage of black Africans sold as slaves in Libya, sparking outrage from political leaders and street protests in African and European capitals.

“Libya restated its agreement to identify the camps where barbaric scenes have been identified,” Macron said, adding Libya’s UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez “Sarraj gave his agreement that access be assured”.

Opening a European Union-Africa summit that was meant to focus on the continent’s long-term economic development, Ouattara immediately lashed out at slavery as a “wretched drama which recalls the worst hours of human history.”

Other African, EU and United Nations leaders also condemned the slavery revelations when they met at the summit in Ivory Coast’s economic capital Abidjan.

“I would like to appeal to our sense of responsibility to take all urgent measures to put an end to that practice, which belongs to another age,” he said, opening the gathering of 55 African Union and 28 EU leaders.

African Union and other critics have accused the EU of creating conditions for the slave trade as well as rape and torture of migrants by encouraging Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) to detain migrants and stop them from coming to Europe.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Alleged $1bln Fraud: CBEX Promoter in EFCC Net

Adefowora Abiodun, a suspected promoter of the cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto Bridge...

Nigeria’s $750m DARES Initiative Gains Momentum with New REA Grant Signings, Targets N17.5m Nigerians

    The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) took a significant step towards...

112 electrocution fatalities: CJN urges judiciary to enforce industry safety regulations

With 112 electrocution fatalities and 95 injuries recorded in Nigeria’s power sector...

US Narcotics Bureau lauds NDLEA’s operational successes, pledges continued collaboration

As a testament to its reputation as one of the leading forces...

Cardinals to convene conclave, elect new Pope

The Vatican has announced that Catholic cardinals will meet on May 7...

South Africa Marks 31 Years of Freedom, Nigeria Extends Congratulations

The government and people of Nigeria have extended warm congratulations to South...

History Makers: Liverpool Claim Unprecedented 20th League Championship

By Samuel Akpan with agency report Liverpool have been crowned Premier League...

Breaking: Sexual harassment allegation: Suspended Sen. Natasha ‘apologizes’ to Akpabio

In a move that has been described as both an apology and...

Exclusive: FCT Set to Roll Out High-Capacity Buses As Abuja Terminals Near Completion

Abuja residents are buzzing with excitement as they count down to the...

US Grants Asylum to Over 800 Nigerians in Two Years

Over the past two years, 897 Nigerians were granted asylum in the...

Naira abuse: Singer Terry Apala Spends Weekend in Ikoyi Prison

Afrobeat and Apala artist Terry Apala, whose real name is Terry Alexander...

400,000 followers bid farewell to ‘Pope Among People’ in Rome

By Daniel Okejeme with agency report In a testament to his global...

NPA Inaugurates Committee to Drive Port Operations Transformation

The Federal Government has launched the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC)...

$4.2m COVID-19 Relief Funds Scandal: Prominent Osun Monarch, Pastor Face Jail Terms in US

A prominent Yoruba monarch, Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in...

NGE, Senate, House of Reps’ Press Corps Felicitate NNPCL’s spokesman Soneye on NIPR Award

Following numerous congratulatory messages, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the...

Information Commissioners in APC-Controlled States Hail Tinubu’s Reforms, Nigerians’ Resilience

President Bola Tinubu’s administration received commendation from Information Commissioners of APC-controlled states...

Tribunal upholds FCCPC’s $220m fine on Meta, awards $35,000 as costs

Meta Platforms Inc.’s effort to overturn the $220 million fine imposed by...

Just in: Ex-Rivers Deputy Speaker Sues FG, CBN, Others Over Release of LG Funds to Administrator

A legal challenge has emerged for the Rivers State Sole Administrator, retired...

Rivers Administrator Ibas at Reps, Wants More Time for Briefing

Due to the precarious security and political environment stemming from the state...

US Dollar Climbs to N1,605 as Naira Weakens

The Nigerian naira has continued its depreciation against the US dollar at...