Amnesty accuses the EU of being complicit in a fresh Libyan crackdown on migrants.

 Amnesty International reported on Tuesday that authorities in both eastern and western Libya have stepped up their crackdown on migrants and refugees over the past month, carrying out mass arrests, detentions, and expulsions, and accused the EU of being complicit in the abuse.

Libya, where ‌control is split between rival western and eastern factions, has been a major transit route for people fleeing conflict and poverty towards Europe by the dangerous sea route since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled ​Muammar Gaddafi.

The EU and its member states have long backed and trained the Libyan coastguard, which stops migrants at sea. While the EU officially recognises only the Tripoli-based government, it has, since last year, also increased its engagement with rival authorities in the east.

Amnesty said the crackdown included mass arrests across multiple cities, forced ​evictions and expulsion of hundreds of migrants, including nationals of war-torn Sudan, without the chance to ask for asylum or challenge their deportation.

“The EU has long bankrolled migration control in Libya with its support ​to the Libyan Coast Guard, which has already made it complicit in horrific violations and ​abuses,” said Diana Elahawy, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“Extending this ‌cooperation ⁠to eastern-based armed groups with records of committing war crimes and other abuses with impunity shows a shocking disregard, not only for international law, but also for human life and dignity,” Elahawy added.

The EU’s executive European Commission, the Libyan government in Tripoli and the administration ​in the east did ​not immediately respond to ⁠requests for comment. EU officials have defended their cooperation with Libya as helping to save lives at sea and curb unlawful trafficking.

In ​a letter to EU leaders last week, Commission President Ursula von ​der Leyen ⁠said “continued EU engagement with Libya remains indispensable,” citing a rise in irregular crossings, towards Greece via the Eastern Mediterranean route.

“We are providing targeted financial and operational support to strengthen border management, ⁠search-and-rescue and ​anti-smuggling capacities, and reduce illegal departures and the loss ​of lives at sea,” von der Leyen said.