Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia has welcomed 178 returning migrants from Libya through the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program, supported by the European Union Delegation in The Gambia, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has confirmed.

With this latest arrival, IOM has facilitated the safe and dignified return of 319 stranded Gambian migrants since the beginning of the year. However, hundreds more remain stuck in Libya, where they endure harsh living conditions under the control of various groups, including regular security forces, militias, and human traffickers.

Many of the returnees shared distressing accounts of their experiences in Libya, describing abuse, exploitation, and inhumane treatment. Despite their ordeals, they expressed deep relief and gratitude upon their return to The Gambia, where they hope to rebuild their lives with the support of reintegration programs.

The plight of migrants in Libya has been underscored by recent grim discoveries in the country. Just last week, the bodies of at least 28 migrants were found in a mass grave in the southeastern city of Kufra, only days after another mass grave containing 19 bodies was uncovered on a farm in the same area.

Libyan authorities, after raiding a human trafficking center, rescued 76 migrants from forced detention and arrested three suspects—two foreigners and a Libyan—on charges of detaining and torturing migrants. The Libyan attorney general’s office stated that the suspects subjected migrants to cruel, humiliating, and inhumane treatment. The search in Kufra, located some 1,700 kilometers from the capital, Tripoli, is still ongoing.

The Gambian government and international organizations say they continue to work toward assisting stranded migrants and raising awareness about the dangers of irregular migration, urging young people to seek safer alternatives for economic opportunities.