A coalition of at-sea migrant rescue organizations has formed a new fleet, severing ties with the Libyan Coast Guard. The move comes in response to what the groups describe as “crimes against humanity” committed by the coast guard and other entities. According to Sea-Watch spokesperson Giulia Messmer, over a dozen rescue organizations are taking a stand against these alleged abuses.
The newly formed Justice Fleet aims to defend human rights and protect asylum seekers from mistreatment by states and various groups. Messmer emphasized that while rescue organizations are working to bring people to safety, the Italian state and European Union are complicit in these crimes through funding, training, and equipment transfers to Libyan militias. She noted that the Libyan Coast Guard has been known to return migrants to Libya, where they face torture, slavery, and sexual abuse, as documented by the United Nations.
The Justice Fleet’s goals include struggling against state crimes, strengthening solidarity networks with people trapped in Libya, and defending human rights. The coalition seeks to create public and legal pressure to drive political change. Despite repeated calls from human rights experts to refrain from supporting Libyan forces in stopping migrants, European officials remain committed to their current approach.
The EU’s cooperation with Libya has been a subject of controversy, particularly since the country’s descent into chaos following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi. The resulting power vacuum has led to rival administrations and rogue militias, contributing to an increase in migrant departures from eastern Libya to Greece. European officials have sought to address this issue, but their efforts have been criticized by human rights groups.
The EU has defended its cooperation with Libya, blaming migrant deaths on people smugglers and human traffickers. However, critics argue that EU leaders are complicit in crimes against humanity through their support of Libyan militias. In October, human rights lawyers filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court, accusing over 120 European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, of violating migrant rights in the Mediterranean.
The formation of the Justice Fleet marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over migration policies and human rights in the Mediterranean. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how European officials will respond to the coalition’s demands and the growing criticism of their cooperation with Libya.