African Migrants Sold As Slaves In Libya

African Migrants  seeking to reach Europe for a better life through Libya have their dreams turned into nightmares as they are being sold as slaves or sex slaves, in  Libya Slave trade markets.


Many of the victims are held hostage in Libya after paying human traffickers who promise to 'help' them get to Europe through the Mediterranean and ransom demanded by their families in order to set them free.

According to the International Organisation for Migration's, (IOM) chief of mission in Libya , Othman Belbeisi, "Selling human beings is becoming a trend among smugglers as the smuggling network in Libya are becoming stronger.

"Migrants are being sold in markets as commodities for as low as $200 to $500 per person."

Some of the migrants, who manage to escape from the traders, are put in prison, tortured and starved before being freed or sold again.

Migrants, mainly Nigerians, Ghanaians and Gambians are "forced to work for the kidnappers/slave traders as guards in the ransom houses or in the 'market' itself.