News
Didier Drogba, Sonia Rolland join protest march over slave trade in Libya
The conversation around the slave trade persisting in Libya that was recently reported by CNN has grown into a protest among other things.
An evidence of this development was seen on Saturday as former Chelsea player and Ivorian international Didier Drogba joined thousands of people in a rally against such human abuse in Paris, the capital of France. Former Miss France, Sonia Rolland was also at the rally which took place in front of the Libyan embassy in France.
The protesters displayed signs reading “No to slavery in Libya”. The marched from the Libyan Embassy towards the Champs-Elysees, where they were stopped by riot police cordons.
Clashes broke out as police moved to disperse the protest. Some activists began hurling rocks at police, who responded with tear gas.
The Libyan government launched a probe into slave auctions operating in the country, including areas controlled by the UN-backed Government of National Accord, after CNN showed footage of migrants being sold at a location outside Tripoli.
In the investigation done by CNN, it was discovered that migrants were being auctioned for as low as $400. Most of the slaves were migrants seeking to cross to Europe via the Mediterranean sea to Italy.
The African Union on Friday called for Libyan authorities to investigate “slave markets” of black Africans operating in the conflict-torn nation, following the release of shocking images showing the sale of young men.
Guinean President Alpha Conde, who is also Chairman of the African Union, demanded an enquiry and prosecutions relating to what he termed a “despicable trade… from another era”.
Meanwhile Senegal’s government, commenting on Facebook, expressed “outrage at the sale of Sub-Saharan African migrants on Libyan soil,” which constituted a “blight on the conscience of humanity”.
-
Politics15 hours ago
Imo ex-gov Ihedioha pays visit to Otti
-
News18 hours ago
Ogun schools resume third academic term today
-
News15 hours ago
NFL star Tank Dell injured in Florida shooting
-
News12 hours ago
Court slams Linda Ikeji N30m damages over libelous post against NBM
-
Crime16 hours ago
NDLEA busts man carrying 4,000 tramadol pills at Lagos airport
-
Metro15 hours ago
Fuel queues return across states amid supply shortages
-
News17 hours ago
Five dead as deadly tornadoes hits US states
-
News14 hours ago
FCCPC partners ECOWAS, seeks Nigerians’ input to shape digital market