Libyan authorities have ordered 10 aid groups to close their offices, accusing them of encouraging African migrants to stay in the country and alter its demographic composition.
The groups, including Doctors Without Borders, the UN refugee agency, and Norwegian Refugee Council, have been providing humanitarian assistance to migrants and refugees in Libya.
The Libyan government claims that the aid groups’ actions represent a “hostile act” aimed at changing the country’s ethnic makeup.
However, the UN refugee agency has defended its work, stating that it operates with the consent of the Tripoli government and provides assistance to refugees in dire need.
The expulsion of aid groups comes amid a broader context of instability and human rights abuses in Libya.
Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been plagued by armed militias, human trafficking, and violence against migrants. Many migrants have reported being subjected to forced labor, rape, and other forms of abuse.
The international community has condemned the Libyan government’s decision, with many criticizing it as a form of anti-black racism.
The move is likely to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Libya and leave thousands of migrants and refugees without access to essential services.
