The Libyan Attorney General has ordered the detention of the commercial director of Ghadames Airlines. He faces charges of facilitating illegal migration to the United States via Nicaragua.
On Monday, the Attorney General’s Office revealed this decision followed an investigation into the airline’s activities.
Ghadames Airlines was found to have transported hundreds of individuals seeking entry into the United States through Nicaragua, in violation of existing immigration laws.
Investigations confirmed that the airline operated flights carrying hundreds of people from East Asian countries. These operations were conducted without adhering to the obligations of the air carrier or national immigration laws.
Additionally, they violated international agreements, including the Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air, which supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.
The statement noted that these actions harmed Libya’s national interests. As a result, the investigator decided to detain the accused pending further investigation.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been engulfed in chaos, with various factions vying for control. The country remains divided between the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli and the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east. The instability has led to numerous human rights abuses, including the detention of migrants and refugees under harsh conditions.
Many Moroccans, attempting to migrate to Europe, have found themselves caught in this turmoil, ending up in Libyan detention centers. These centers are often overcrowded and under-resourced, with reports of abuse and neglect.
The Moroccan government has faced criticism for its perceived lack of action in addressing the plight of its citizens abroad. The situation of Moroccan prisoners in Libya has become a focal point for human rights activists and organizations advocating for the rights of migrants and detainees.
