Libyan Slave Trade

The Muslim Youth Movement (MYM) of South Africa notes with grave concern reports of the enslavement of African migrants in Libya. These reports, widely reported in international media, indicate that desperate migrants on their way to Europe to seek a better life are falling prey to vicious criminal syndicates who sell them off to slavery or harvest their organs for sale in the illicit organ markets of the world.

These migrants, mainly from West Africa, undertake this perilous journey at great cost to themselves, their families and communities and to escape impoverished conditions in their home countries. It is an indictment on African governments, African regional bodies like ECOWAS and the African Union that they have been silent on the atrocities allegedly visited upon their citizens in Libya. Most shamefully is the fact that these governments and have failed their people to the extent that they risk life and limb to try and reach what they perceive as a better life in Europe.  

The resurgence of this despicable and backward trade in human beings and human organs mark the reversal of the small civilizational gains that humanity has made since the abolishment of slavery in the nineteenth century.

We call on the South African government, the African Union, United Nations and all justice loving people of the world to speak out and rise up against this evil trade. We make a special call to South African civil society organization’s to raise their voices in condemning the enslavement of human beings and use whatever little influence they have and exert pressure on the South African government to get in contact with the Libyan counterparts and seek a solution to this problem which threatens to make an unwelcome return.

Mr. Thandile Kona

MYM President

084 422 9336