Despite growing concerns over human rights violations, Libya is preparing to open its EU-funded Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in October, located in Tripoli. Masoud Abdul Samad, head of the Libyan Coast Guard (LCG), recently praised the professionalism of his team, stating that over 9,300 migrants have been rescued from the Mediterranean Sea this year. However, the LCG’s operations have faced significant criticism, particularly in light of incidents involving armed men intercepting NGO rescue missions and video evidence showing attacks on migrant dinghies.
Libya’s prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, has urged Europe to increase financial support to prevent migration through Libya, calling it a “moral responsibility” for European nations. However, human rights groups argue that supporting the Libyan Coast Guard exacerbates the abuse and exploitation of migrants, especially as many are intercepted and returned to detention centers where they face severe mistreatment.
The new MRCC, first proposed in 2017, was intended to enhance Libya’s capacity to manage its Search and Rescue (SAR) zone in the Mediterranean, previously handled by Italy. After years of delays, the center is now set to open, raising concerns about its potential to further entrench the EU’s reliance on Libya for border control. Rights groups fear that this will legitimize the LCG, despite its failure to respond to distress calls from migrant vessels and its practice of returning migrants to unsafe conditions in Libya.
The Libyan Coast Guard has long been accused of violating international maritime law, with cases where rescued migrants were taken back to Libya, a country not considered a “safe port” by international standards. Courts, including in Italy, have ruled that Libya cannot be trusted with vulnerable migrants, as conditions in detention centers are deplorable, leading to cases of persecution and abuse.
The MRCC’s upcoming launch is seen as part of Europe’s strategy to outsource border control to Libya, despite mounting evidence that the system perpetuates human rights abuses. While the center’s establishment may increase the LCG’s operational power, it is unlikely to improve the humanitarian treatment of migrants.