TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan authorities announced Thursday the rescue of 60 migrants who had been held captive for several years by human traffickers while attempting to transit through the country en route to Italy.
The migrants, whose nationalities have not yet been disclosed, are believed to have crossed multiple African countries in search of better living conditions, fleeing conflict and poverty in their home nations.
Their ultimate goal, authorities said, was to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.
Among those rescued are reportedly young Somalis, raising fresh concern among families who have lost contact with loved ones amid years-long migration journeys.
Many Somali families remain in the dark about the fate of their missing relatives, fueling despair and uncertainty.
The Libyan government said it is intensifying efforts to rescue migrants trapped in the country and to dismantle the smuggling networks that exploit them.
Authorities have vowed to continue operations against traffickers operating within Libya’s borders, as the country remains a major transit point for irregular migration to Europe.
Libya has long been a hub for migrants seeking passage across the Mediterranean, often falling prey to abuse, extortion, and prolonged detention in makeshift camps or traffickers’ hideouts.
