Libyan Coast guard Faces Scrutiny After Shooting at Migrant Teenager at Sea
september 29,2025 – A teenage migrant was shot and wounded by members of the Libyan coast guard on September 22,2025,raising serious concerns about the escalating violence employed against individuals attempting to cross the mediterranean Sea. The incident, occurring approximately 10:35 a.m. local time, underscores a growing pattern of aggression linked to European Union funding of Libyan maritime security forces.
The shooting highlights a troubling trend: despite EU investment intended to curb irregular migration, actions by the Libyan coast guard are increasingly endangering lives and potentially fueling further instability. Charities warn that continued financial support for these forces, especially given their history of abuses, could exacerbate the situation, leading to more incidents of violence against vulnerable migrants and refugees. The incident occurred just days after a similar confrontation on August 2025, where the charity rescue ship Ocean Viking endured 20 minutes of intense gunfire from a Libyan coastguard vessel provided by Italy in 2023.
According to Jana Sauerteig, a policy expert at SOS Humanity, “These incidents are increasing and it is linked to the EU funding of the so-called libyan coast guard. They think they can do whatever they want, that ther are no consequences for their actions.” The Libyan coast guard, bolstered by EU resources and training, has been tasked with intercepting migrant boats and returning individuals to Libya, a country plagued by political instability and widespread human rights violations.
The EU has provided significant financial and logistical support to Libya in recent years, aiming to disrupt human smuggling networks and reduce the flow of migrants to Europe. However, critics argue that this approach prioritizes border control over the protection of human life and has inadvertently empowered abusive actors. The long-term consequences of this strategy remain uncertain, but the recent shooting of a teenage migrant serves as a stark warning about the potential for further escalation and the urgent need for a more humane and effective approach to migration management.
