Multiple sources and eyewitnesses from the Libyan city of Benghazi have reported worsening humanitarian conditions for hundreds of Sudanese refugees held at the Qanfouda detention center.
A former detainee, speaking to Darfur24 on condition of anonymity, said that hundreds of Sudanese refugees had been detained from streets and checkpoints and transferred to Qanfouda without being brought before prosecutors or informed of the reasons for their detention.
He explained that he was arrested about a month ago at a checkpoint near the city of Sirte along with other Sudanese nationals. A total of 43 people were rounded up and later transferred to Qanfouda, where he was eventually released after paying 500 Libyan dinars—about 250,000 Sudanese pounds.
According to the witness, the center lacks basic necessities such as food, water, and healthcare, noting that around 400 people are held in a ward built for only 50. He also confirmed that dozens of Sudanese families, including children, women, and the elderly, are being detained under harsh conditions that fail to meet minimum human rights standards.
Another witness from Kufra, near the Sudanese border, who left the center a few days ago, said that Qanfouda receives more than 20 Sudanese detainees daily, including families and children. He added that financial “settlements” are made inside the facility without any legal process or referral to judicial authorities.
Fadel Mahmoud Mohamed, a member of the Sudanese community in Libya, told Darfur24 that the detentions are carried out by Libya’s Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency, citing the refugees’ entry into Libya without proper documentation. He noted that efforts are underway, in coordination with relevant authorities, to repatriate the detainees to Sudan as part of a voluntary return program expected to begin in November.
