Dozens of Sudanese refugee journalists in Libya face rising threats after anti-foreigner protests swept across multiple Libyan cities last week.
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate reported 33 refugee journalists and their families living in Libya, many enduring unstable and dangerous conditions.
Some journalists have been physically attacked at home or on streets, heightening fears of arrests, assaults, and forced deportations.
Mass demonstrations erupted Friday in cities including Misrata, with protesters demanding the expulsion of foreigners and vandalizing local markets.
A Sudanese journalist, speaking anonymously, described the situation as “increasingly dangerous” after fleeing Sudan and registering with the UNHCR for protection.
Libyan authorities, however, do not recognise UNHCR refugee cards, leaving refugees vulnerable to arrest at checkpoints across the country.
“My children were bullied at school last week. I had to withdraw them and now avoid leaving home entirely,” he said.
The Libyan Ministry of Interior said a field committee in Sabratha arrested hundreds of undocumented migrants and penalized property owners sheltering them.
Iman Fadl El-Sayed, Secretary of Freedoms at the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, called conditions “critical” for journalists trapped in recent violence zones.
She stressed that many journalists urgently need assistance to relocate to safer areas, as the syndicate lacks resources for evacuation.
The syndicate is coordinating with international organisations, including the UNHCR, to secure protection, support, and potential resettlement for endangered journalists.
According to UNHCR, Libya hosts roughly 357,000 Sudanese refugees, concentrated in Kufra, Tripoli, Benghazi, and other cities across the country.
Misrata alone accommodates more than 7,000 Sudanese refugees, with thousands more residing in Zawiya, Al-Jafara, Derna, Tobruk, and Jebel Akhdar.
