African police say 95 Libyans detained

The Libyans had entered South Africa in April and claimed to be training to be security guards, officials say

By AFP
July 27, 2024
A general view of a tent at the entrance to a farm where the South African Police Services detained ninety five Libyan nationals for receiving training at what authorities suspect to be a secret military camp in White River, Mpumalanga province on July 26, 2024. — AFP
A general view of a tent at the entrance to a farm where the South African Police Services detained ninety five Libyan nationals for receiving training at what authorities suspect to be a secret military camp in White River, Mpumalanga province on July 26, 2024. — AFP

WHITE RIVER, South Africa: South African authorities rounded up 95 Libyans in a raid Friday at a farm that appeared to have been converted into an illegal military training base, police said.

The early morning raid was in a remote area outside the town of White River in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga, about 360 kilometres (220 miles) east of Johannesburg, they said.

“The 95 individuals taken into custody are all Libyan nationals and are currently being questioned by the relevant authorities,” police said in a statement.

The Libyans had entered South Africa in April and claimed to be training to be security guards, officials said.