The Government of Zambia has assured that Zambians living in Libya are safe, following reports of alleged slave markets in the North African country.

Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba, said his country had not received any report of Zambians being caught up in the alleged slave trade in Libya.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that no Ghanaians have been sold off as slaves in Libya.

“Following disturbing reports of African nationals being sold off as slaves in Libya, the Ghana Mission in Malta, with concurrent accreditation from Libya, paid a consular visit to the three detention centers in Tripoli, namely, Tajoora, Trek Al Sika and Trek Mate.” A foreign ministry statement reads.

The statement clarified that 68 Ghanaian detainees who were identified, were not part of the slave trade as alleged, but had rather been arrested on illegal immigration charges, and were already being held in detention camps.

In Libya, 17 Ghanaian immigrants were repatriated today as part of IOM's Libya voluntary return program.