On Friday, 95 Libyan nationals were seized by South African police from a suspected covert military training facility. Authorities are now looking at other areas of the nation for possible unlawful bases.
Found on a farm in White River, Mpumalanga province, the camp lies about 360 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Johannesburg. Police said the Libyans said they came into South Africa under study visas intended for training as security guards. Police inquiries, however, indicate they have military training.
Athlenda Mathe, a national police spokesman, said on X on social media that the Libyans had arrived under false pretenses—that of acquiring study permits. Images of the operation were shown on the Newzroom Afrika TV news station, depicting a military-style camp with big green tents set in a row. As they were apprehended, other men dressed in civilian clothes could be seen queuing.
According to local government official Jackie Macie, the farm owner would be questioned and investigations are still under progress. Authorities have been informed about such covert camps close to two additional Mpumalanga provinces municipalities.
Concerned about illegal immigration, the province borders Mozambique and Eswatini calls South African officials attention. Whether the camps are connected to any particular group or conflict is yet unknown among police and officials.
Macie underlined that the studies will help to understand the goal of the military training and find whether there is a network of camps in South Africa.
Two days ago, the operation aiming at arresting the Libyans and closing the camp started. According to Macie, the Libyan nationals have been in the nation since at least April.
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“The 95 individuals taken into custody are all Libyan nationals and are currently being questioned by the relevant authorities, Mpumalanga acting provincial commissioner Maj. Gen. Zeph Mkhwanazi said in a statement.
Nowadays, authorities concentrate on exposing the whole scope of these operations and making sure any other such camps are found and closed down. The circumstances calls serious questions regarding the immigration laws and security in the area, which motivates a careful research to grasp the wider consequences.
