2 mass graves with bodies of nearly 50 migrants found in southeastern Libya
CAIRO: Libya authorities uncovered nearly 50 bodies this week from two mass graves in the country's southeastern desert, officials said Sunday, in the latest tragedy involving people seeking to reach Europe through the chaos-stricken North African country.
The first mass grave with 19 bodies was found Friday in a farm in the southeastern city of Kufra, the security directorate said in a statement, adding that authorities took them for autopsy.
Authorities posted images on its Facebook page showing police officers and medics digging in the sand and recovering dead bodies that were wrapped in blankets.
The Al-Abreen charity, which helps migrants in eastern and southern Libya, said that some were apparently shot and killed before being buried in the mass grave.
A separate mass grave with at least 30 bodies was also found in Kufra after raiding a human trafficking center, according to Mohamed Al-Fadeil, head of the security chamber in Kufra. Survivors said nearly 70 people were buried in the grave, he added. Authorities were still searching the area.
Migrants' mass graves are not uncommon in Libya. Last year, authorities unearthed the bodies of at least 65 migrants in the Shuayrif region, 350 kilometers (220 miles) south of the capital, Tripoli.
Libya is the dominant transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to make it to Europe. The country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. Oil-rich Libya has been ruled for most of the past decade by rival governments in eastern and western Libya, each backed by an array of militias and foreign governments.
Human traffickers have benefited from more than a decade of instability, smuggling migrants across the country's borders with six nations, including Chad, Niger, Sudan Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia.
Once at the coast, traffickers pack desperate migrants seeking a better life in Europe into ill-equipped rubber boats and other vessels for risky voyages on the perilous Central Mediterranean Sea route.
Rights groups and UN agencies have for years documented systematic abuse of migrants in Libya including forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families before migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers' boats.
Those who have been intercepted and returned to Libya — including women and children — are held in government-run detention centers where they also suffer from abuse, including torture, rape and extortion, according to rights groups and UN experts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Gender equality in politics remains a distant prospect
Ahead of Tuesday's International Day of Women in Diplomacy, let us look at the status of women in politics and diplomacy. According to the 2024 Women in Diplomacy Index, only 21 percent of ambassadors and permanent representatives to the UN are women, a slight increase from 20.5 percent in 2023. Progress, yes, but at a very slow pace. Similarly, the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 released this month showed that gender parity in political empowerment increased slightly from 22.5 percent in 2024 to 22.9 percent. Gender parity in political empowerment remains far behind the three other dimensions measured by the index, which found economic participation is at 61 percent, educational attainment at 95.1 percent and health at 96.2 percent among 148 countries. However, across the 19 editions of the index, political empowerment has seen the most improvement, from 14.3 percent in 2006, but at the current pace it will take 162 years to fully close the gap. Globally, women remain significantly underrepresented in the political sphere, including legislative bodies, where they represent fewer than a third of parliamentary speakers. A 2025 report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union revealed that women held an average of 27.2 percent of parliamentary seats. Women are also underrepresented in Cabinet portfolios. In addition, there is the 'implementation gap,' whereby gender equality laws are not backed by the infrastructure needed to enforce them. Adopting high legal standards alone is not enough, there has to be robust implementation mechanisms to translate policy into outcomes. Looking at the Middle East and North Africa region in particular, it ranks last among the eight regions in the Global Gender Gap Index. Although it ranks fifth globally in educational attainment and sixth in health, women's economic participation is a great challenge for the region at 42.4 percent, while it also continues to trail in political empowerment, with the lowest global score of 10.5 percent. But its regional average has more than tripled since 2006. In terms of ambassadorial roles, the region again ranks last, falling well below the world average at 10 percent, according to the Women in Diplomacy Index. It also ranks last in terms of women in parliament, with an average of 16.7 percent, putting it below the global average. Saudi Arabia ranked 132nd in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index and seventh in the MENA region, but it is among the fastest-moving countries in terms of the speed of its progress, especially in economic participation and political empowerment. In educational attainment and health, it is very close to gender parity. Saudi women have been working at the Foreign Ministry since the early 2000s and in international and regional organizations since the 1970s, reaching leadership positions. The first female ambassador, Princess Reema bint Bandar, was appointed in 2019 and the Kingdom now has five female ambassadors. There has been a steady increase in the number of women in leadership positions in politics during the past few years, including in the Shoura Council and in ministries with roles in international relations. In Saudi Arabia, there has been a steady increase in the number of women in leadership positions in politics during the past few years. Maha Akeel Research indicates several obstacles to women's presence and advancement in politics and diplomacy, especially as they are areas that require travel or relocation, which can be a challenge for women, who are considered to be primary caregivers. In addition to balancing family life and career, they also have to deal with being in the public eye and the sexism and harassment that can come with that, from both inside and outside of foreign ministries. It is also one of those gendered stereotypical perceptions that such roles are generally done by men. Research suggests that foreign ministries should ensure a fair recruitment process, provide mentorship and coaching, and introduce policies that reduce the challenges of being posted abroad. According to the Arab Barometer Gender Report 2024, women across the region have suffered a setback in terms of views on gender equality in politics in recent years. In six of the seven countries surveyed, there was an increase in how many people agreed with the statement: 'In general, men are better at political leadership than women.' This increase brings the level back to that observed a decade ago. Interestingly, this increase in perception that men are better at politics is found among both men and women. However, in every country, women are far more likely to disagree than men. On the other hand, a majority of citizens surveyed by the Arab Barometer think there should be Cabinet positions and parliamentary seats reserved for women. Moreover, most citizens also think that having women in positions of political power advances women's rights, which is why it is important to have female representation. A majority of the citizens surveyed believed that having female political leaders advances women's rights to a great or medium extent, although there is still a significant gap between men and women. Support for women's role in politics is more prevalent among citizens who are engaged in politics through political parties, which indicates greater confidence in women's abilities and willingness to promote women's participation in the political arena. The survey also found that citizens who have working female relatives are less likely to agree that men are better political leaders, which again indicates that women being in the workforce increases the positive perception of their abilities and political leadership skills. With everything going on in the world today, from wars to humanitarian suffering, would having greater female representation in political decision-making circles make a difference? Research shows that diversity of opinion and female involvement in conflict resolution and foreign policy do have a positive impact.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
UN Security Council to meet on Iran as Russia, China and Pakistan push for ceasefire
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will meet Sunday to discuss US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East. It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote. The three countries circulated the draft text, said diplomats, and asked members to share their comments by Monday evening. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to pass. The US is likely to oppose the draft resolution, seen by Reuters, which also condemns attacks on Iran's nuclear sites and facilities. The text does not name the United States or Israel. The world awaited Iran's response on Sunday after President Donald Trump said the US had 'obliterated' Tehran's key nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution. Iran requested the UN Security Council meeting, calling on the 15-member body 'to address this blatant and unlawful act of aggression, to condemn it in the strongest possible terms.' Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement on Sunday that the US and Israel 'do not deserve any condemnation, but rather an expression of appreciation and gratitude for making the world a safer place.' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday branded the US strikes on Iran as a 'dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.' 'At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,' Guterres said in a statement.
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Rajhi: Employee engagement rate in public sector reaches 83.4%
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi said that the Saudi employee engagement indicators for the year 2024 has achieved tangible positive results. "The employee engagement rate for public sector employees reached 83.4 percent, exceeding the set annual target of 76.5 percent. This reflects growing institutional awareness and the authorities' keenness to improve work environments and promote a culture of professional commitment," he said while addressing the annual ceremony of honoring government agencies that achieved the highest levels of employee engagement in 2024. The minister presented the Employee Engagement Award to nine government agencies during the ceremony, which was attended by several government officials and representatives of government agencies. In his speech, Al-Rajhi emphasized that the Employee Engagement Program embodies the interest and support of the wise leadership for the public sector. "This program reflects the ministry's commitment to strengthening the role of human capital as a fundamental pillar in the transition to a more efficient government work environment. The program contributes to consolidating a sense of belonging and initiative, raising the quality of services provided to beneficiaries, and enhancing performance efficiency," he said. Al-Rajhi reviewed the most notable achievements during 2024, such as the Cabinet's approval of the National Program for Succession and Leadership Development, the launch of the Promising Leaders Program, the qualification of more than 120 government leaders through academic programs and leadership forums, the launch of the engineering salary scale regulations, and the launch of several electronic services that contribute to supporting corporate governance in the government sector. Deputy Minister for Human Capital Development Fahad Al-Drees made a presentation on the Employee Engagement Measurement Initiative, which included a comprehensive assessment of levels of satisfaction and professional commitment. He also introduced the "Motivating Work Environment Program" and the "Institutional Engagement Platform," which enables government agencies to monitor moral performance indicators and improve motivation strategies. The ceremony included panel discussions and a presentation of several success stories in the field of employee engagement within government agencies. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has won first place in the government ministries category, while the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing came in second, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology emerged third. In the institutions, councils, and public bodies category, the National Competitiveness Center bagged the first place, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property came in second, and the General Authority for Endowments bagged the third place. In the educational and training institutions category, Al-Majmaa University has won first place, followed by Najran University, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. It is noteworthy that the Career Engagement Program is one of the strategic initiatives of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. It aims to promote a culture of high performance, create a positive competitive environment among government agencies, and encourage the exchange of best practices in the field of human capital management and development. Saudi employee engagement refers to the level of enthusiasm, dedication, and connection that employees in Saudi Arabia feel towards their work and their organizations. It encompasses how emotionally invested employees are in their jobs, their commitment to the company's goals, and their willingness to go the extra mile. High employee engagement is linked to increased productivity, improved performance, and a more positive work environment.
