BENGHAZI, Libya – A delegation from Somalia’s bicameral federal parliament attending the second conference of the Afro-Asian Parliamentary Council in Benghazi held talks with Libyan House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh Issa, focusing on the situation of Somali nationals detained in Libya.
The Somali delegation expressed concern over the condition of Somali youths being held in Libyan prisons and what it described as unauthorized detention facilities, where many are reportedly facing harsh conditions and humanitarian abuses.
According to participants, the lawmakers called for urgent measures to improve the welfare of the detainees, secure a lasting solution to their situation and facilitate their eventual return to Somalia.
Saleh, who also serves as chairman of the Afro-Asian Parliamentary Council, welcomed the Somali delegation’s concerns and pledged to follow up on the issue. He said a parliamentary committee would be established to monitor the conditions of Somali detainees and examine ways to address their situation.
The meeting also discussed strengthening parliamentary cooperation between Somalia and Libya, including collaboration on legislation, oversight, institutional development and the exchange of parliamentary expertise.
Libya remains a major transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa, including Somalia, passing through the country each year. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of migrants and detainees in Libyan detention facilities.
