Forty-two migrants are missing and feared dead after a boat capsized off the coast of Libya, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM). Among the missing are 29 Sudanese, eight Somalis, three Cameroonians, and two Nigerians.
IOM reports that a total of 49 migrants were on the rubber boat, which set off from the northwestern town of Zuwara on 3 November. The vessel sank six hours into its journey in the Mediterranean Sea. After drifting for six days, Libyan rescuers recovered seven survivors on 8 November.
This incident is the latest example of deadly migration along the central Mediterranean route this year, during which over a thousand people have died trying to reach Europe. IOM stressed the urgent need to expand safe and legal migration routes, strengthen regional cooperation, and ensure effective search and rescue operations.
Questions have also arisen regarding the role of Libya’s Coast Guard, which has long faced allegations of violence and abuse against migrants. Human rights group C-Watch reported that between 2016 and September 2025, the Libyan Coast Guard was involved in at least 60 violent maritime incidents. Recently, 13 European rescue organizations suspended cooperation with Libya’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, accusing it of acting as an EU-funded armed militia targeting migrants.
According to Frontex, the EU border agency, over 58,000 people attempted to reach Europe via the central Mediterranean route between January and October this year. UN data shows that around 867,000 refugees and migrants currently reside in Libya, where they regularly face abuse, rape, extortion, and physical violence.
TSN