A new tragedy illustrates the hell endured by exiles in Libya. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, security forces unearthed a mass grave containing the remains of 21 sub-Saharan migrants in the city of Ajdabya, located 160 km south of Benghazi.

A cold-blooded crime

The victims were discovered on private property belonging to a notorious human trafficker. According to authorities in eastern Libya, the migrants were "executed in cold blood" by this criminal, who has since been arrested.

At the scene, police also rescued other survivors in critical condition:

1. Gunshot wounds: Several migrants were targeted.
2. Aftermath of torture: Survivors bear the marks of extreme physical violence.
3. Medical care: The injured were urgently transferred to hospital facilities in the region.

A criminal system based on terror

This case highlights the total impunity enjoyed by trafficking networks in Libya. The country has become a veritable trap for those trying to reach Europe. The modus operandi of these criminal networks is now well documented by NGOs.

1. Sequestration: Migrants are crammed into farms or clandestine centers.
2. Systematic torture: This violence is used to extort ransoms amounting to several thousand dollars from families.
3. Financial exploitation: This trafficking generates colossal profits, transforming some network leaders into millionaires.

The repetition of the macabre discoveries

The horror of Ajdabya is unfortunately not an isolated case. Libya is regularly the scene of similar discoveries, confirming the ongoing danger for migrants:

1. 2024: 65 bodies discovered in the south of the country.
2. 2025: A mass grave containing around one hundred victims is exhumed in the same region.

Whether intercepted at sea and sent to detention centers (legal or secret) or held captive by armed gangs, migrants face an uninterrupted cycle of abuse, starvation, and violence.