Libya to launch probe into slave trading in the country

The Libyan Government of National Accord announced it will launch a probe into media reports that African migrants are being sold as slaves in the country, days after the airing of a CNN report on the issue.

In a statement posted on the government’s Facebook page, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maetig said that he was going to assign specialised committees to investigate the aired footage, which showed an auction for slave trading, arrest the culprits and bring them to justice.

Footage aired on CNN showed migrants being offered for sale in an auction, which stirred up angry reactions in Africa and among United Nations circles.

The mobile phone footage shows two young men being auctioned off. Next, the CNN narrator comments that the two were sold for 1,200 Libyan dinars, equivalent to $876.

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