The Italian daily Avvenire has documented the presence of trafficker Abd al-Rahman al-Milad, also known as “Bija”, in negotiations between the italian government and the Libyan authorities following the Italy / Libya Memorandum.
The 2017 Memorandum of Understanding signed between Italy and Libya, aimed at preventing of migrants and refugees’ departures to Europe, was automatically renewed on February 2, 2019.
Nello Scavo’s investigation published on Avvenire documented al-Milad’s participation in Italy-Libya negotiations about the agreement’ implementation in May 2017, documented by photographs showing institutional meetings with Italian officials in Sicily and Rome.
Al-Milad is undoubtedly a complex character: he is alleged to be a trafficker and militiaman, head of the Zawiya detention center and of the Libyan Guard on the west coast, which is allegedly responsible for hundreds of migrant’s deaths by drowning. His participation in institutional negotiations with the Italian Ministry of Interior and the International Organization for Migration is troubling.
