With the way everything in the world has been going – especially politics and race relations, we may as well be back 1917, or 1817. To validate that point, a recent CNN report aired footage that showed African migrants being sold off as farmworkers at auctions in Libya, in 2017. Humans are actually being traded for as little as $400 (N144,000).
(Photo: CNN)
Libya is the last stopping point in Africa before migrants begin the dangerous journey through the Mediterranean to Europe, and hundreds of thousands of Africans have attempted to travel to Europe in recent years, resulting in thousands of drowning deaths and a countless number of them being sold into slavery. The International Organization for Migration estimates there are currently between 700,000 and a million migrants stuck in Libya.
“Rwanda, like the rest of the world, was horrified by the images of the tragedy currently unfolding in Libya, where African men, women and children who were on the road to exile, have been held and turned into slaves. Given Rwanda’s political philosophy and our own history, we cannot remain silent when human beings are being mistreated and auctioned off like cattle.
The Government and people of Rwanda stand in solidarity with our African brothers and sisters still held in captivity. Rwanda may not be able to welcome everyone but our door is wide open. We are ready to work closely with the African Union, the private sector, as well as other friends and partners to ensure that we can provide minimum comfort to those in need.”
(Photo: NYTimes)
In 1994, Rwanda went through a civil war that left 800,000 Rwandans dead and many more maimed, putting Rwanda at the center of one of the largest refugee crises of the 20th century, and 2 million Rwandans fled the nation to neighbouring countries during that time. So it is incredible that a more stable Rwanda is now standing up for these migrants.
(Photo: France24)
Culled from konbini.com
Comments are closed.