Migration activist Ebrima Drammeh has strongly condemned the recent surge of racist violence targeting African migrants and refugees in Libya. In a statement released on March 20, 2025, Drammeh highlighted the alarming human rights abuses and discrimination faced by Black individuals in the country.
According to the statement, between March 12 and 16, multiple raids, arbitrary arrests, assaults, and murders were reported across Western Libya. African migrants and refugees, including Gambians, as well as Black Libyans and Tunisians, have been subjected to violent crackdowns.
In several cities, security forces and militias have raided homes, arrested individuals en masse, and transferred them to detention centers. In some cases, migrants and refugees were forcibly evicted, their belongings burned, and landlords threatened for providing them shelter. Reports from activists on the ground also indicate incidents of sexual violence and racially motivated killings, including the tragic death of a pregnant woman from Niger who was struck by a car.
Drammeh’s statement accuses government officials of fueling anti-Black sentiment through inflammatory rhetoric, which has escalated into widespread violence. The situation is further exacerbated by external political interests, with concerns that certain international actors are complicit in the ongoing crisis.
Calling for urgent intervention, the activist demands an immediate end to racial violence, protection for vulnerable populations, and accountability for those responsible. The statement urges civil society groups in Libya to resist xenophobic agitation and advocate for solidarity with affected communities. Additionally, it calls on international bodies to open safe migration pathways, cease funding organizations linked to human rights abuses, and ensure justice for victims of these crimes.
Drammeh warns that the unfolding events amount to crimes against humanity and urges the international community to take decisive action to prevent further atrocities.
