The crisis of African migrants passing through Libya and EU policies

Every year a large number of migrants arrive in EU countries not because they want to reach voluntarily but because they are forced to flee, either from their countries of origin or from intermediate stops along the migration route. From sub-Saharan countries to Libya begins the journey of migrants where war, armed conflict, and lawlessness provide a fertile environment for human trafficking activities. The study combines fieldwork, semi-structured interviews with migrants, and desk analysis of EU strategies and agreements with Libyan authorities. The most important result shows that EU deterrence policies have reduced arrivals to Europe but simultaneously worsened humanitarian conditions in Libya, exposing migrants to systematic abuse and exploitation. In conclusion, the research emphasizes that addressing Africa’s structural causes of migration and reforming EU policy frame-works are essential to reduce irregular migration while safeguarding human rights.