Slave Trade in Libya a Mockery of African Unity – Nana Addo

Reports of African migrants in Libya being sold into slavery and being subjected to other atrocities, make a mockery of African unity, President Akufo-Addo has said.

Pictures of slave markets and gross abuse of black Africans are awash on social media after CNN uncovered the disturbing human trade in the once safe country that is now in tatters after the overthrow of Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi.

The heartbreaking images also showed some migrants being tortured to death by individuals in Libyan military wears.

There has been a wave of condemnations across Africa, especially due to the silence of the continent’s leaders and groups like the AU and ECOWAS over the incident.

In a statement on social media, President Akufo-Addo condemned the slave auctions, which were brought to light in a special report by CNN.

Men from Niger and other sub-Saharan countries were seen being sold to buyers for about $400 in Libya.

“The current slave auctions of Africans in Libya are not only gross and scandalous abuses of human rights, but are also mockeries of the alleged solidarity of African nations grouped in the African Union (AU), of which Libya is a member,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

Libyan authorities have already launched a formal investigation into slave auctions in the country, and the AU has expressed outrage at the slave trade reports.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) had already sounded an alarm in April after it said it had gathered evidence of slave trade in Libya.

Hundreds of thousands of Africans travel through Libya every year as they try to make their way to Europe, and this makes them an easy target for smugglers who force them to work for little or no money.

168 Ghanaian detainees in Libya to return

Though there are a substantial number of Ghanaians detained in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has explained that no Ghanaian has been sold off as a slave in Libya.

The Ministry has however said it is facilitating the return of some 168 Ghanaians who have been detained in Libya.

The 168, who were thought to be victims of a torturous slave trade activity in Libya, were rather illegal migrants arrested by the Libyan government.

The Ministry has said it was working together with the International Organization for Migration to get the identified Ghanaians back into the country via a chartered flight from Tripoli.

It is holding talks with some stakeholders to get a consulate opened in Libya after the existing was closed down during the Libyan political crisis.

Source: Citifmonline