Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
Abdul Rahman al Milad or “Bija”, one of Libya’s most wanted human traffickers, was shot dead in his car in Tripoli on Sunday. The circumstances of his death are still unknown and no one has claimed responsibility for the killing. Bija led an extensive trafficking network and at the same time commanded a “coast guard” unit in the western town of Zawiya that, according to UN experts, was “directly involved in the sinking of migrant boats using firearms”. He also managed migrant detention centres known for systematically violating human rights. The Libyan coast guard consists of informal armed groups trained and financed by the Italian government and the EU to stop crossing attempts across the Mediterranean. Bija himself confirmed meeting with Italian government representatives in 2017, and three years later was jailed by the Libyan government – but was released after six months following protests by his hometown militias.
