South African police announced the arrest of 95 Libyans following a raid on a farm suspected of being used as a military camp. “Ninety-five Libyans were arrested after a raid,” police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli told AFP. “The site was purported to be a training camp for a security company, but it appears to be a military base at first glance.”
The discovery of what resembles a military training camp has raised many questions in South Africa. The 95 Libyan nationals, who had been in the country since April for security guard training, are now suspected by the police of undergoing a much more extreme form of training.
The site initially appears to be a military camp, with large khaki tents, sandbags for stabilization, an obstacle course structure, and camouflage-colored containers. However, the police have not reported any seizure of military weapons, and the site was officially presented as a training camp for a security company.
The 95 Libyan nationals found on the site were not dressed in military uniforms. They have all been taken to police stations for questioning and are currently under investigation for violating immigration laws, as they are suspected of lying about the purpose of their visit to South Africa.
According to a journalist present at the scene, the Libyans were living in deplorable conditions, with food remnants, flies, and foul odors prevalent.
The camp was discovered in a rural, agricultural region in northern South Africa, near the Mozambique border. The police have reassured the public that there is no risk to their safety and have promised to provide more details as soon as possible.