Libya Discovers Nearly 50 Bodies in Two Mass Graves in the Desert

Mass Grave in Lybia Photo: LybiaNews

February 9, 2025 Hour: 3:07 pm

Authorities in Libya have uncovered nearly 50 bodies in two mass graves in the country’s southeastern desert, marking yet another grim discovery linked to migrants seeking to reach Europe through North Africa.

According to officials, 19 bodies were found Friday on a farm in Kufra, a remote desert city. Images shared on social media by authorities showed police officers and medics exhuming bodies wrapped in blankets from the sand.

Mass graves of migrants are not uncommon in Libya. In 2024, authorities unearthed at least 65 migrant bodies in Shuayrif, a region located 350 kilometers (220 miles) south of Tripoli.

🚨🇱🇾LIBYA DISCOVERS MASS GRAVE WITH 28 MIGRANTS—76 FREED FROM CAPTIVITY

Libyan authorities recovered 28 migrant bodies from a mass grave near Kufra, while 76 others were rescued from forced detention, officials confirmed.

Investigators say a criminal gang tortured and abused… pic.twitter.com/Ok5wSljsUu
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 9, 2025

Libya remains the primary transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempting the dangerous journey to Europe. The country’s ongoing instability—spanning over a decade—has emboldened human traffickers, who smuggle migrants through Libya’s six neighboring countries: Chad, Niger, Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Authorities have not yet provided details on the identities or nationalities of the deceased, but investigations are ongoing.