- 15,000 African migrants are set to be evacuated from Libya via the help of the African Union in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration
- The AU is taking the action following the outrage from the global community over the recently exposed slave trade in the North African country
- The AU and its member states would also work to achieve the sustainable reintegration of the evacuees into their home communities
The African Union (AU) has committed itself to evacuating 15,000 African migrants in Libya before the end of 2017, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), BBC reports.
The development was made public by the deputy chairman of the AU Commission, Kwesi Quartey, via his Twitter handle, @HEQuarteyKwesi.
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NAIJ.com notes that the move comes on the heels of global outrage over the report of the booming slave trade in the North African country.
Quartey disclosed that there are currently about 20,000 migrants being held in various government detention centers in Libya.
He stated that the AU would facilitate the evacuation in conjunction with its member states and would work to achieve the sustainable reintegration of the evacuees into their home communities.
The evacuation would be carried out via a Voluntary Humanitarian Evacuation of Migrants plan.
See the tweets:
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that a young Nigerian barber, Victor Imasuen, who was sold into slavery in Libya while trying to pass the country on his way to Europe, recounted his ordeal.
Imasuen said he was introduced to the illegal journey by a client who came to his shop to have a haircut.
Nigerians speak on slavery in Libya - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng