The Human Rights Association (HRA) on Sunday called on Libyan authorities to release all Sudanese nationals it said were being held in arbitrary detention and to dismantle trafficking and extortion networks targeting refugees in the country.
The group also urged Libya to cooperate with United Nations agencies to ensure the protection, voluntary return or resettlement of Sudanese nationals.
Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, more than 240,000 Sudanese refugees have entered Libya, many via the southeastern Alkufra crossing, according to HRA figures. It said arrivals had peaked at 400 to 500 people per day during periods of high influx.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had registered more than 86,000 Sudanese refugees in Libya as of November 2025, the HRA said. It added that Sudanese nationals accounted for about 43% of new arrivals, with many originating from Khartoum and Darfur, while children made up around 41%.
The organisation cited reported deaths during desert crossings, including an incident in May 2025 in which 11 Sudanese nationals allegedly died of dehydration near Alkufra after their vehicle broke down.
In a February 2026 report, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) described widespread abuses against migrants and refugees, including arbitrary detention, forced labour, sexual violence, extortion and trafficking. The report was based on interviews conducted between 2024 and 2025.
The HRA said Sudanese nationals were among the most affected groups, citing allegations of harassment, forced labour and attempted sexual violence, including against minors. It also said some refugees intercepted at sea and returned to Libya were subjected to renewed detention and abuse.
The group said UNHCR-registered Sudanese refugees had been detained in Libya and, in some cases, had their documentation destroyed by detention authorities. It added that detention facilities were overcrowded, with reports of poor conditions, lack of medical care and deaths linked to untreated illness.
Libya has in recent years enforced a policy against formal refugee camps and has carried out raids on informal settlements, according to UN and rights reports.
HRA Chairman Saad Kassis-Mohamed said Sudanese refugees were fleeing war only to face further abuse in Libya.
“Sudanese refugees are arriving in Libya after surviving a war that has killed thousands and displaced millions,” he said. “Once they arrive, they face arbitrary arrest, detention without charge, forced labour, extortion and sexual violence.”
He called for the release of all Sudanese detainees, an end to forced returns, and stronger cooperation with UN agencies.
The HRA urged Libyan authorities to dismantle trafficking networks, protect women and children in detention, and establish accountability mechanisms for alleged abuses.
The Human Rights Association, based in Cape Town, is affiliated with the WeCare Foundation and works on cases involving arbitrary detention and due process violations in coordination with UN mechanisms.
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