PERSPECTIVE: Claire Magone reacts to France giving 6 boats to Libyan coastguard (ENG)

A few days ago, the media confirmed that French armed forces minister, Ms. Parly, was preparing to deliver 6 boats to the Libyan navy, likely for the Libyan coastguard, to help fight against irregular immigration.
The announcement has stirred little reaction. Claire Magone speaks her mind.

MSF265219

To Report An Asset

If you think this image is in any way inappropriate, please report it, by including its URN/identifying code and a brief description of your concern in sending an email to [email protected]

Linked assets

PERSPECTIVE: Claire Magone reacts to France giving 6 boats to Libyan coastguard (INT)

PERSPECTIVE: Claire Magone reacts to France giving 6 boats to Libyan coastguard (FR)

Subt. French

PERSPECTIVE: Claire Magone reacts to France giving 6 boats to Libyan coastguard

Add to lightbox

Add to cart

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF265219

Date taken / Date Recorded 26/02/2019 12:00 AM

Country France

Commissioning section MSF-FRANCE

Photographer / videographer / producer Aurelie Baumel

Usage Rights (MSF) MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★★★ (B)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m8s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 210.00 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist A few days ago, the media confirmed that French armed forces minister, Ms. Parly, was preparing to deliver 6 boats to the Libyan navy, likely for the Libyan coastguard, to help fight against irregular immigration. This information has gone relatively unnoticed despite it being truly disgraceful. Why is it disgraceful? First, because France, like Italy and other countries in the European Union, has been actively working in recent years to sink the efforts of civil society in the central Mediterranean, and has participated in the obstruction, disparagement, and slander campaign against NGOs trying to save the lives of people crossing the Mediterranean between Libya and Europe. There are now almost no boats dedicated to rescue operations in the central Mediterranean.
So, on one hand, they rid the central Mediterranean of these rescue teams, of all the civil society efforts that were truly devoted and designed to save lives. And on the other hand, full powers are given to the Libyan coastguard, who we know are not concerned about rescuing lives at sea. Their primary concern, as we’ve witnessed enough times to be able to testify to it, is to go to sea to intercept boats by will or force, often extremely violently, to bring them back to Libya.
We know the abject, inhumane and unacceptable conditions in which people forcibly returned to Libya are detained. They’re held in overcrowded detention centers prone to all forms of abuse and exploitation. Emmanuel Macron himself seemed moved, and indeed spoke of crimes against humanity when referring to these conditions.
How can we be outraged at the despicable conditions in which migrants and asylum seekers are kept in Libya, and at the same time give logistical means to the Libyan coastguard to bring migrants back into this hell?
France is fueling a system it claims to denounce, an organized system of human rights violations.