On 8 October, the Sudanese Observatory for Human Rights voiced deep concern over the growing hate speech, violence and arbitrary arrests targeting Sudanese refugees in Libya. The observatory said the situation in western Libya, particularly in Tripoli, Misrata, Al-Zawiya and Sorman, has become catastrophic and threatens the lives of hundreds of refugees.
It said security bodies, including the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration, have carried out night raids on refugees’ homes, detaining many arbitrarily and transferring them to overcrowded centres lacking basic humanitarian standards. Refugees, including women and children, are said to face degrading and inhuman treatment in open detention areas. The observatory also warned that an organised hate campaign on social media is fuelling public violence, with civilians attacking foreigners and vandalising their property. In documented incidents, armed individuals have broken into refugees’ homes, threatened families with knives and forced them to leave their houses.