A migrant rescue vessel in the Central Mediterranean, the Sea-Watch 5, recently experienced a violent confrontation with the Libyan coast guard, which included threats of vessel seizure in international waters. The militia-operated Libyan coast guard has a contentious history with NGOs that conduct rescues, claiming jurisdiction over operations in international waters. Their approach often involves forcibly returning migrants to Libya, where numerous human rights abuses have been reported. On Monday, after rescuing 90 individuals, the Sea-Watch 5 was fired upon by a Libyan patrol boat, which threatened to board the vessel and take its occupants back to Libya. The crew issued a mayday and reached out to Italian and German authorities for assistance.
Following this incident, the Libyan boats eventually retreated, allowing the Sea-Watch 5 to continue its mission and rescue an additional 64 people. Notably, one of the militia boats was identified as a Corrubia-class patrol vessel, provided to Libya by the Italian government. Just a week prior, Germany’s interior ministry had expanded its security alert zone to include Libya’s Exclusive Economic Zone, citing increased risks to rescue vessels. Sea-Watch criticized the German government for its contradictory stance, supporting the Libyan coast guard while simultaneously acknowledging the threats posed by its actions.
The European Commission has faced scrutiny for its seemingly lenient response to the Libyan coast guard’s aggressive tactics. An EC spokesperson described the situation as a technical issue, asserting that their engagement aims to enhance migration management and protect migrants. Meanwhile, Sea-Watch continues to face challenges from Italian authorities, who have sought to impound its vessels to limit rescue operations. In a recent ruling, an Italian court ordered the government to compensate Sea-Watch $89,000 for the detention of its previous vessel, the Sea-Watch 3.
