Civil rescue groups in Mediterranean cut ties with Libyan Coast Guard

More than a dozen civil rescue groups working in the Mediterranean have stopped all communication with the Libyan Coast Guard after repeated reports of violent interceptions and forced returns to abusive detention centers. Their coordinated action marks a major break with an EU-backed system that has long pushed people back to Libya despite mounting evidence of torture, rape, and forced labor.

NGOs push back against EU pressure

The Guardian reports,

“We have never recognized these actors as a legitimate rescue authority – they are part of a violent regime enabled by the EU,” adding, “Ending all operational communication with the so-called Libyan Rescue Coordination Center is both a legal and moral necessity – a clear line against European complicity in crimes against humanity.”

The 13 groups say the EU, and Italy in particular, continue to demand that they coordinate with Libyan forces. The NGOs argue that this demand places them in direct conflict with maritime law and basic human rights. They note that Libya is not a place of safety under any legal framework. They also stress that armed Libyan units have attacked boats, fired shots, and forced survivors back to detention centers notorious for trafficking and abuse.

This decision comes after years of rising pressure. Italy has blocked rescue ships from leaving port for more than 700 collective days. Libya’s coast guard was also accused in August of firing on a vessel operated by SOS Méditerranée. A report from Sea-Watch documented 54 violent incidents by Libyan forces since 2016, including ramming, shootings, and assaults.

NGO crews say they cannot keep sharing information with actors they view as dangerous. They believe the EU uses Libya to outsource border control and avoid responsibility for people seeking safety. Many point to the UN’s 2021 investigation that found a “litany of abuses” in Libyan detention centers. Investigators even suggested that these abuses could amount to crimes against humanity.

United for change

The groups have created a new alliance called the Justice Fleet. The Fleet plans to track violent incidents at sea and highlight the growing number of legal cases that challenge EU-Libya cooperation. They aim to give the public a clearer view of what happens during interceptions. They also hope this effort will help protect survivors and push for accountability.

This alliance includes the largest group of civil rescue organizations ever formed. They say unity is necessary because governments have blocked, criminalized, and smeared them for years. Over the past decade, they have rescued more than 155,000 people from drowning. Their work continues even as they face detentions, fines, and possible vessel seizures.

The groups argue that they cannot enable a system that sends people back to forced labor, trafficking, and violence. They want Europe to face the consequences of its policies instead of relying on armed units that violate human rights.

Freedom United stands with communities demanding an end to EU cooperation with Libya while migrants remain at risk of forced labor and trafficking. Add your name to our call for safety, accountability, and rights-based migration systems.