Videos and images recently revealed by CNN allegedly show a “slave auction” of migrants and refugees, a practice that is occurring in Libya. The footage appears to show more than 10 men being sold at auction, some of whom were described by an unseen auctioneer as "big strong boys for farm work.” CNN reported that many are migrants and refugees from other African countries who travel through Libya often to escape conflict back home.
The footage has prompted conversations about colorism against darker skinned or Sub-Saharan Africans, which may have contributed to the violence. Also considered a factor is Europe’s apathytoward African migrants, of which the world has 244 million .
According to CNN, there are at least nine locations known for slave auctions in Libya, but there are believed to be many more. The news outlet has received recognition for surfacing the footage, but back in April, the International Organization for Migration released a report that noted “slave markets” were present along North African migrant routes.
Many reports trace smuggling, abuse, and forced slavery of Africans attempting to reach Europe to the 2011 fall of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was in power for over 40 years. His decline came with aid from Western countries like the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. Since then, Libya has faced various political and economic challenges that have caused migration from the country, including violent clashes between rival militias and the Libyan military , and killings of former Gaddafi supporters . In April 2016, then U.S. President Barack Obama said the worst mistake of his presidencywas “failing to plan for the day after what I think was the right thing to do in intervening in Libya.”
Currently, Libya is controlled by various governments and militias ; the capital, Tripoli, is home to the only government in the country that is formally recognized by Western powers . Vast areas are controlled by militias from various political or religious factions , which hinders a central government from forming to take charge against the slave trade, and the established racial hierarchy in place often leads to the erasure of many poor or darker skinned Africans.
Libyan authorities have said that they plan to investigate slavery in the country, while Libyan outlets and diplomats have denounced the video and pushed back against CNN for airing it, according to The Guardian .
The crisis for millions of African refugees, many from Sub-Saharan Africa, has been widely recognized in recent years. The fates of refugees and migrants like those shown in the slave market video are often solely in the hands of smugglers who exchange money for their transport to a new home. In August 2016, the European Union signed a memorandum to begin Operation Sophia “in hopes of putting an end to the smuggling of people into Europe,” but has led to riskier and less frequent boat journeys for migrants due to careless navy conduct toward migrant smugglers or poorly made vessels . The International Organization for Migration recently released a reportheadlined, “Migrant Drownings Top 3,000 for 4th Straight Year, Despite Reduced Migrant Crossings of Mediterranean.”
In Libya alone, 30 government-run detention centers exist and hold as many as 15,000 migrants, according to The Guardian .
The journey for many migrants is often marked by abuse — they often face overcrowded conditions in transport, lack of food or water, and beatings. Some have been left behind in the desert . Men are often forced into farm work, and women into prostitution. A 29-year-old African from Abidjan, Mack Williams, spoke with The Washington Post on how migrants are often tricked by smugglers, saying, “If your connection man doesn’t come, it means you’ve been sold. Anyone can sell you to another group.” According to CNN , smugglers will sell a refugee for $400.
Since the recent images and videos came to light, the United Nations has agreed to address the “grave abuses” of African migrants. French leaders called for sanctions against any individual found to be guilty of running a slave auction, with French UN ambassador Francois Delattre declaring , “There is no time to waste.”
Since the video’s release, a week of solidarity with those at risk in Libya was announced by the International Campaign to Boycott UAE, a group that claims the United Arab Emirates funds officials who run the slave trade groups. Celebrities have taken to the Internet to demand an end to the atrocities in Libya, including rapper Cardi B, who called out the UN for its inaction . Protests have erupted in Africa and Paris .
To show support to migrants at risk for human trafficking and slavery, individuals around the world can donate to organizations that serve African refugee populations, like the International Organization for Migration , who saysmugglers have used Facebook Live to stream video of imprisoned migrants in the past (for this reason, Blavity suggested also holding social media companies accountable). Organizations working to end slavery worldwide like Free the Slaves and the Polaris Project are also accepting donations. End Slavery Now has provided a “slave-free” shopping guide to help individuals shop ethically and responsibly.
Amnesty International considers the issue to be “urgent,” and has encouraged concerned people to email Libyan and European leaders, offering talking points to include .
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