The Libyan/Trans-Mediterranean Slave Trade, the African Union, and the Failure of Human Morality

• Main Author: Lucas Mafu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-02-01
• Series: SAGE Open
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019828849

In this article, I argue that the recently exposed slave trade in Libya involving Black African migrants seeking opportunities in Europe is not merely a crime against humanity that has been justly condemned by the international community, but is also a serious indictment on the failings of the African Union’s leadership. It is a reflection of the duplicitous nature of Europe’s commitment to human rights and exposes the African leaders’ moral and leadership deficiencies. Through the use of the Hamitic hypothesis and the cultural racism theory, I discuss some causal factors that have led to the abuse of sub-Saharan Africans migrating to Europe and also the African response to the migrant crisis. Finally, I draw parallels between what I term the New Slavery and the evolving narrative of racism and conclude that poor African leadership is the Achilles’ heel in the restoration of African dignity.