Libya slave trade: AU deploys fact finding committee

The African Union (AU) has sent a delegation to Libya to ascertain the situation on the ground regarding human trafficking and purported slave trade, Dr Admore Kambudzi, Acting Director for AU Peace and Security Department, has said.

A video that shows African migrants sold as slaves in Libya sparked a global outcry. It has come to light that hundreds of Africans are being auctioned in modern day slave markets for $400 per person as Libya is the main transit hub for illegal immigrants and refugees seeking to reach Europe.

A video published by CNN shows two men stand in the dark negotiating with an auctioneer to buy migrants.

In an interview with Dr Etse Sikanku on Class 91.3 FM's World Affairs on Friday, December 1, Dr Kambudzi revealed that the AU is interested in finding out the reality on the ground in order to address concerns of slave trade.

"Our Chairperson has taken robust measures. He has decided to deploy a delegation of the AU Commission to Libya to establish the fact and make recommendations,” he said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other global figures have condemned the slavery describing it as “gross and scandalous abuses of human rights.”

Others including Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Ranking member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has however called for a joint military intervention to free the black African slaves being held captive.

Dr Kambudzi, who was not enthused about the development blamed it partly on the overthrow and murder of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

"We allowed people outside Africa to come and destroy a country that was doing well. Libya used to pay the contributions for so many African countries to the AU. Now it can't," he stated.

Six years after the overthrow of Mr Gaddafi, Libya is still a failed state with heavy presence of militants and other violent groups perpetuating heinous crimes.