At Least 21 Migrant Bodies Found in Libya Mass Grave
Last update: January 15, 2026
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Survivors report torture as authorities investigate discovery near Ajdabiya.
At least 21 migrant bodies have been found in a mass grave in eastern Libya, with up to 10 survivors showing signs of torture, security sources said on Thursday.
Authorities discovered the victims after raiding a farm near the town of Ajdabiya, following reports of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa being held there.
Security officials said the migrants, including men, women, and children, were taken to a hospital after being freed, and reported that others had been held with them but disappeared.
The farm owner was arrested and admitted the existence of the grave on his property.
The mass grave was located about 10 kilometers southeast of Ajdabiya, roughly 160 kilometers from Benghazi. How the migrants died remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing.
Libya has become a major transit point for migrants heading to Europe since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, with many vulnerable to abuse due to weak security.
Recent months have seen multiple migrant tragedies, including the rescue of over 100 captives in Ajdabiya, the deaths of 50 refugees in a boat fire off Libya’s coast, and the recovery of 61 bodies near Tripoli.
CBI News reports that UN data from August to October 2025 indicated Libya hosts nearly 929,000 migrants from 44 countries, prompting calls from several nations for the closure of detention centers where abuse is widespread.
