US, UN target Libyan over abuse of migrants

 

The United States and the United Nations imposed sanctions on a Libyan accused of abuses of migrants amid growing alarm over human trafficking and inhumane conditions in the key gateway to Europe.

The United States said Tuesday it was freezing any assets and criminalizing any transactions with Osama Al Kuni Ibrahim, described as the manager of the Al-Nasr detention center in Zawiyah, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the capital Tripoli.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Al Kuni, 45, carried out "horrific abuses" against mostly African migrants including killings and sexual violence.

"Today's action promotes accountability and exposes the mistreatment, exploitation and violence being perpetrated against vulnerable migrants transiting Libya in pursuit of a better life," Blinken said, calling on Libya's fragile unity government also to take action against Al Kuni.

The action follows a similar designation Monday by the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council which called on all nations to ban Al Kuni from transiting through them and freeze any funds in their territory.

Human traffickers have profited from Libya's chaos since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi, smuggling migrants into the Mediterranean in hopes of reaching Europe.

European nations led by Italy have financed the Libyan coastguard as it seizes migrants but human rights groups say that those sent back are often sent to jails mired in corrupt management and deplorable conditions.

Pope Francis on Sunday urged governments to stop sending people back to Libya, voicing sadness at the "inhumane violence" perpetrated against migrants including children.