The humanitarian group SOS Méditerranée has warned that migrants attempting to cross the central Mediterranean and the rescue ships that come to their aid are facing increasingly aggressive harassment from Libyan-linked armed groups. In a statement released on Monday, the Marseille-based NGO described the region as becoming “increasingly hostile,” a trend it attributes to the deepening cooperation between European authorities and Libyan actors on migration deterrence.
The group, which operates the rescue vessel Ocean Viking as part of a broader network of ships and surveillance aircraft, reported that between June and July, boats associated with Libyan actors approached rescue vessels at high speed or shadowed them for hours, engaging in chases that extended into international waters. At least seven such incidents were recorded.
SOS Méditerranée also noted a “significant increase in the presence of unidentified speed boats linked to different armed groups in Libya.” These vessels, the NGO said, were observed carrying out violent interceptions, including deliberately ramming boats carrying people in distress and performing dangerous manoeuvres that put lives at risk.
Escalating violence and impunity
The warning follows a serious incident last year, when SOS Méditerranée accused the Libyan coastguard of attacking the Ocean Viking in international waters. The NGO said more than 100 shots were fired, endangering the crew and 87 rescued migrants on board. Legal proceedings were initiated in Italy, France, and Germany, but the organisation says European and national authorities have remained silent, and those responsible have not been identified.
“We are calling for a full and independent investigation into these attacks,” a spokesperson for SOS Méditerranée said. The group argues that the lack of accountability encourages further aggression and undermines the legal framework that protects rescue operations at sea.
The situation is set against a broader backdrop of rising fatalities. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported this month that deaths in the central Mediterranean have increased sharply, even as the number of migrants attempting the crossing has fallen due to stricter European policies. According to the IOM, 821 people died or were reported missing in the first four months of the year, a 111% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Migrant arrivals over that period dropped by 46% to 8,577.
The central Mediterranean remains one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The increase in deaths, despite fewer crossings, points to the growing dangers posed not only by the sea itself but also by the actions of armed groups operating from Libya’s coast. European cooperation with Libyan authorities on migration control has been a cornerstone of EU policy for years, but critics argue it has effectively outsourced deterrence to a country plagued by instability and militia influence.
In a related development, Mauritanian coastguard rescues over 300 migrants from a drifting boat off West Africa, highlighting the broader pressures along the Atlantic route. Meanwhile, on Europe’s southern border, Ceuta buries 18 unidentified migrants after a deadly surge at the Spanish enclave, and Latvia intercepts 28 migrants using a tunnel from Belarus, illustrating the multiple fronts of migration pressure on the continent.
SOS Méditerranée’s call for an independent investigation echoes concerns raised by other humanitarian organisations and UN agencies. They argue that without accountability, the central Mediterranean will remain a lawless zone where the right to life is secondary to political expediency. The group has urged European governments to reconsider their reliance on Libyan forces and to ensure that rescue operations are not obstructed.
As the summer months bring calmer seas and potentially more crossings, the NGO’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of migration policies that prioritise deterrence over safety. The European Union has yet to respond formally to the latest allegations, but the issue is likely to feature in upcoming discussions on migration and asylum reform.
