Addis Ababa, 20 November 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, today received the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the State of Libya in Ethiopia, Dr. Seddigh Elgwairy, to discuss the situation of African migrants in Libya, particularly reports of the auctioning of some migrants as slaves.

The Chairperson of the Commission expressed the African Union’s profound concern over these despicable acts and stressed the need for a credible inquiry to shed light on this situation, in order to identify those responsible and to bring them to justice. He urged the Libyan authorities to fully cooperate with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which has been requested to urgently carry out an investigation.

The Chargé d'Affaires expressed the strong condemnation of the Libyan Government of these inhumane practices and its commitment to take the necessary measures against all those involved. He indicated that his Government has initiated an investigation and will provide the necessary cooperation to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. The Charge d’Affaires reiterated the appeal of the Libyan Government for adequate international assistance to help it address the challenges related to migration and the existence of criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
 
It should be recalled that the Chairperson of the Commission intends to quickly dispatch an envoy to Libya for consultations with the Libyan Government and other stakeholders to agree on practical measures to improve the plight of African migrants in Libya.