Maghreb Edition

Libya: Rescue ship saves 86 migrants off Libyan coastF

Posted On 29 June 2023

Number of times this article was read : 1615

The migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking rescued 86 people off the coast of Libya on Tuesday as their vessel foundered while trying to reach Europe, its French-based operator said. “The rescued, mainly from Gambia and Senegal, were suffering from dehydration, exhaustion and fuel burns,” a spokesman for the charity told AFP. He added that most of the migrants were minors, trying to cross the Mediterranean on their own, without family. Italian authorities have said the passengers can disembark at its port of Bari, which the charity said was still a three-day voyage away.

According to the Italian interior ministry, around 90,000 migrants have arrived by sea so far this year. The UN’s International Organization for Migration estimates that 1,724 migrants had disappeared trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe so far this year, up from 1,417 last year.

AFP
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Morocco: Employment Gains Concentrate in Urban Centers as Rural Areas Fall BehindF

Morocco’s labor market showed strong job creation in 2025, but the gains were overwhelmingly concentrated in urban areas. While cities absorbed nearly all new employment, rural regions continued to lose jobs, exposing a widening divide that leaves young people, women, and rural workers increasingly disconnected from the recovery.

Egypt and Turkey Test Pragmatic Rapprochement After Years of EstrangementF

Egypt and Turkey are cautiously rebuilding relations after years of estrangement, driven by shifting regional dynamics and converging state interests. Recent defense-industrial cooperation and renewed diplomatic engagement point to a pragmatic recalibration rather than full political reconciliation, as both countries test whether managed coordination can replace prolonged rivalry.

Egypt Deepens Defense-Industrial Engagement With ChinaF

Egypt is advancing defense-industrial cooperation with China through localized production, joint exercises, and expanded military training links. Developments during 2025 point to a pragmatic effort by Cairo to diversify suppliers and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity, while Beijing cautiously broadens engagement beyond conventional arms sales.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.