In Africa there is no place for slavery
Statement by Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation on behalf of the Namibian Government.
āThe Government of the Republic of Namibia has learned with utter shock and dismay from media reports about the abhorrent and despicable phenomenon of slave auctions that were being masterminded by certain immoral groups and individuals in Libya. We resolutely condemn these degrading and inhumane practices.
āIn the āAfrica We Wantā there should be no place for any form of slavery including modern slavery.
āThe Government of the Republic of Namibia welcomes the Libyan authoritiesā strong condemnation of these inhumane practices, the undertaking that Libya will take the necessary measures against those involved and provide the necessary cooperation to the African Commission on Human and Peoplesā Rights and trust that the high authorities of Libya will do everything possible to arrest this new dreaded phenomenon, bring all those directly and indirectly involved to justice.
āIn this connection, the Government of the Republic of Namibia recalls the international communityās commitments contained in the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on the Large Movement of Refugees and Migrants which took place on 19 September 2016 in New York.
āThe Declaration serves as a rallying call by Member States to, amongst others, increase efforts in assisting migrants and refugees, addressing the root causes of irregular migration and enhancing responsibility-sharing between countries of origin and receiving countries.
āThe Government supports the efforts of the Chairperson of the AU Commission who has dispatched the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs to engage in discussions with the Government of Libya and other stakeholders to find out what is happening in Libya and to propose the most practical measures to improve the plight of the African migrants in that country.